Hockey games. A determined heroine. A story taken from novels loved by young people. With these elements, will the new Premier trio series succeed in charming teenagers? The reaction of the students who were able to attend the press screening with the actors of the show last Wednesday suggests that with this production, ICI Tou.tv Extra will score points with this clientele less fond of TV. here.
In the large, bright hall of Durocher College in Saint-Lambert, sustained applause is heard. The second episode of the First Trio series has just come to an end and we feel that the 60 or so third-grade students gathered together had a good time.
“Personally, I loved it,” confirms Justine Leduc when asked for her impressions. At her side, her friends Rosalie Drouin and Anissa Naouai agree with her.
Adapted from the literary series of the same name, written by Nadia Lakhdari, First Trio tells the story of Chloé, a star hockey player who receives an invitation to participate in the selection camp of a Bantam AAA… male team. Should she agree? Anyone who has seen the posters of the show on which the interpreter of Chloé, Constance Munger, sits in the center of a gang of boys understands that she will try her luck.
“Girls who play hockey will recognize themselves in Chloe,” the 16-year-old actress believes. She herself has been practicing this sport since she was little. “I’ve never played at a high level, but I’ve played with guys all my life,” she said.
Despite some experience as an extra, Constance Munger never wanted to be an actress. So why did you audition for the lead role in Premier Trio?
The national sport of Quebec is also the element that led Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie (Eaux turbulentes, District 31) to wish to take part in the project. “When I got the audition request for a hockey series, I was so excited, because it was my youth, Les Pee Wee 3D. I dreamed of shooting a film on the ice, “says the interpreter of Xavier, the player who will try the most to integrate Chloé into the team.
The same cannot be said for each of the Lynx wannabes. Some will multiply bad tricks to discourage “the girl”.
Even though hockey is at the heart of Premier Trio, viewers don’t have to be fans of the sport to love the show, Constance Munger believes.
An impression confirmed by Anissa Naouai, one of the students with whom La Presse spoke. This young dancer recognized herself in the character of Chloé. “It’s a lot [of training]. It’s a lot of commitment. Often, I miss events, parties. That’s kind of what happens on the show,” she points out.
Her friend Justine Leduc also draws a parallel between her life and that of the young hockey player.
In the series, this mother who dreams of one day seeing her daughter at the Olympics is played by Catherine Proulx-Lemay.
“I thought it was fun that it wasn’t just the overly ambitious, aggressive parent. […] There, the mother is a little too much, but, at the same time, there is nothing unhealthy. She wants a lot for her daughter,” says the actress.
According to her, the series aimed at pre-teens and teenagers is likely to bring conversations to homes on ways to reconcile the practice of sport with studies and relationships, as much family and friends as love.
“Also seeing all the discrimination that still exists against girls in guys’ sports circles, I hope that will open up the discussions and that the prejudices will perhaps fall away,” she adds.
Those who have read Nadia Lakhdari’s novels will notice that the relationship between Chloe and her parents is not the same as in the books. On television, the teenager now has a father hen, played by Patrick Drolet.
Are there any other notable changes? “There are a lot of additions,” replies the author, a member of the scripting team. If the story of Chloe and Xavier remains the same, that of the other characters has been enhanced in this first season which includes volumes 1, 2 and 3.
“People will recognize the books […], but they will have lots of candy, little surprises,” summarizes Nadia Lakhdari.
Premier Trio, which also stars many young actors including Iani Bédard, Louka Amadeo Bélanger-Leos, Mathieu Drouin, Dounia Ouirzane, Rosalie Loiselle, as well as Véronique Cloutier’s son, Justin Morissette, will have a second season. Filming will begin in July.
