Pages 14 and 15 of the official Courville playbill in front of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts Lyric Theater. Photo: Estelle Su/Shroffed
After performing his hit solo play 887 at the 47th Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2019, Robert LePage returns to the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival with Courville, a semi-autobiographical play exploring themes not unlike those found in 887.
The play is a part of the month-long 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival, which features a variety of performances including musicals, operas, dance performances, and theatre productions from local and international artists.
This festival draws people from many backgrounds, though Courville is recommended for ages 14 and up. Some primarily speak Cantonese, others Mandarin and/or English. Luckily, all of the theater staff are able to communicate in all three languages when it comes to assisting people getting their tickets and finding their seats.
People waiting outside the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Lyric Theatre for the doors to open. Photo: Estelle Su/Shroffed
Taking inspiration from traditional Japanese bunraku puppet theatre, Courville follows the tumultuous story of 17-year-old Simon as narrated by an older Simon.
The play begins with an older Simon introducing the audience to Courville, a now defunct municipality of Quebec City. Underneath lies caverns, threatening the integrity of the soil. In its immediate vicinity is Montmorency Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America.
Page 20 from the official Courville playbill. Photo: Estelle Su/Shroffed
On a hot summer day in 1975, Simon rests on the rocky shore near the river rapids with his best friend Sophie, a girl who unsuccessfully tries to woo him all through high school. The river rapids open the audience to the impending unrest and uncertainties approaching Simon.
Simon’s father has just passed, and his shifty uncle now provides for him and his mother. Sophie has her own personal life issues and Simon is bullied at school for the unfortunate scar on his chest all while he grapples with his sexuality. Mainly residing in his basement with occasional visits from bats, Simon finds ways to cope with his rocky mental state through friends, drugs, and love.
Page 19 of the official Courville playbill. Photo: Estelle Su/Shroffed
On the outside, Canada faces off against the Soviet Union in hockey matches during the cold war. Montreal prepares for the 1976 Summer Olympics while Toronto rushes to finish the CN Tower, the tallest building in the world at the time. Sovereignty movements in French-speaking Quebec shake English-speaking Canada. The 1976 Quebec general election is on everyone’s minds.
Through the masterful use of a double-layered platform, projector, and scenic drops, Courville smoothly transitions between various locations, presenting like a mesmerizing movie montage. In some instances, the projector visuals, music, and puppet movements work together to resemble a retro point-and-click story-based adventure video game. This element of nostalgia combined with 1970s vinyl music, and a Twin Peaks-esque soundtrack helps transport the audience back in time with young Simon living in suburbia.
Olivier Normand, the performer who plays adult Simon and voices all the characters, distinctly changes his voice between characters, giving each puppet a voice of their own all the while still appearing from Simon’s point of view. At times, he even speaks to the puppets in place of his younger self, heightening the emotional significance certain interactions had on his life.
“I think the execution of the puppets was really well done,” stated 20-year-old university student Lilia Su. “It emphasized how this was a story told from one perspective. How it was just Simon’s story.”
The story is tight — each character, memory, and seemingly off-hand comment has a purpose. While there is comedic quippy dialogue and scene transitions sprinkled throughout, Courville is ultimately a suspenseful drama exploring trauma, tragedy, and grief.
Certain themes may not resonate with those unfamiliar with Canadian politics. Adult Simon offers some brief historical primers to better familiarize the audience, but ultimately, the significance of the politics in Quebec, its relation to the rest of Canada, and how it relates to the themes of play is reliant on an individual’s personal knowledge of Canadian politics.
Additionally, there are moments throughout the play where French is spoken, or a character speaks English with a heavy French accent. Depending on where an individual is sitting, the English surtitles are obstructed with stage lights.
Lilia Su, 20, standing inside of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where the show is held. Photo: Estelle Su/Shroffed
“I could not understand the French because I wasn’t able to see the English surtitles, so I wasn’t able to get the full meaning of the scenes,” stated Su. “I am going back for a second night with better seats so I can capture the whole essence of the show.”
Nevertheless, themes of independence and sovereignty including Quebec’s fight to keep French as a primary language may resonate with some Hong Kong locals, especially concerns have been voiced throughout the years on the future of the Cantonese and the decline in number of speakers.
How well the play is translated to international audiences, though, is controlled by factors outside of the play’s control. There is some value in rewatching the play, but unlike a movie, Courville is only showing in Hong Kong for three days, potentially leaving many dissatisfied with their understanding of the themes.
Reporting by Estelle Su
Editing by Justin Fung, Coey Fung