The “guy from the shop” and his dear “boss” will come to life in a large-scale multidisciplinary show around the world of Yvon Deschamps. The legendary comedian, who collaborated on the writing of the show, will not go on stage, but he will be present on video to provide the narration.
Welcomed by a crowd of photographers and cameramen like a rock star, Yvon Deschamps arrived nearly 45 minutes late Wednesday at the press conference for this project designed by director Jean-François Blais. “Better late than never,” said the latter, welcoming him. “About Yvon’s arrival. But also, it is time to do something with what he left us. »
This work will be entitled Yvon Deschamps tells La Shop, and will be inspired by his most famous and striking monologues, those dating from 1969 to 1973, which range from Unions que ossa donne? until The Death of the Boss.
“I accepted because I was told I wouldn’t have to do anything! », Launched Yvon Deschamps, as usual deadpan.
One thing led to another, Yvon Deschamps became a bit of a script-editor for the show written by Jean-François Blais and Isabelle Viviers, who wrote a story based on these texts and the characters who inhabit it. “He’s the best for making Deschamps. » Yvon Deschamps laughs. “That’s right, I have it! »
But he did not need to “dive back” into his work to approach this show, he says more seriously. “It is present in my soul and my heart. I’m not going back to that. I’m the guy from the shop. »
A fan of the comedian since the age of 7, Jean-François Blais cherished this collaboration. “We found the role of Monsieur Yvon together. He challenged me to go where he wanted to go. »
Jean-François Blais cried when he received the first texts revised by his idol. “I broke,” he said. He was also very moved when they recorded Yvon Deschamps’ parts, and at the end of a day of filming, he began to sing one of his songs, a cappella…
The screen will be integrated into the decor and Yvon Deschamps will appear as a “benevolent storyteller”. “He will look at the scene, the gang, he will call out to them. It’s really him who will tell what’s happening, as if we were in his head. »
This show will be the first in the Raconte series, an idea that sprouted in the head of the director known for his work on En direct de l’univers and the major Saint-Jean television shows. During a period of questioning, a few years ago, he wanted to work on the sustainability of Quebec culture, and to approach it through storytelling.
“We are going to do one show per year, with a different person each time, which will result in very different shows based on the same canvas. » He is already “three years ahead” – read that he is already working on the next ones – but it was logical for him to start with Yvon Deschamps. ” It is the most important. »
The show will therefore follow the “shop guy” in his world, that of a factory where the workers are dehumanized numbers. The atmosphere will be inspired by Chaplin’s Modern Times – Yvon Deschamps’ absolute idol –, with a black and white aesthetic, a pianist who will make “music on screen”. “It will be 1942 transposed to 2042, the atmosphere will be retrofuturistic. »
On stage, four real actors to interpret Deschamps’ texts, around ten dancers, two circus performers, giant puppets, as well as four musicians since there will also be music.
“There will be songs taken from Yvon’s work, but also from the Quebec song repertoire and which are related to the theme,” explains Jean-François Blais. For example Mon pays de Charlebois, La maudite machine d’Octobre or Homme de rien by Vincent Vallières, all arranged by Antoine Gratton to unify the sound.
Jean-François Blais teamed up with producer Nicolas Lemieux from GSI to launch this series. “Musical heritage is important to us,” says the latter, who was as much behind the Riopelle symphonique project as Ginette Reno’s new album.
Reading and rehearsal work will begin in January, and the first performances will take place in September 2024, in Montreal and Quebec in large venues, but also in the region. “We’re talking about culture, identity, this show has to go everywhere,” says Jean-François Blais.
Several projects inspired by his work have been presented to Yvon Deschamps over the past five years. He usually says yes, but many “die along the way,” he says.
“This one is the most recent that was offered to me, and it will see the light of day before many others. Jean-François arrived and he was structured, and not a little! He knew where it started and ended, how and why. It’s a beautiful project, artistically interesting. »
Can these texts written decades ago still resonate in 2023? ” No idea ! But in principle, love, illness, death, injustice still exist. »
Yvon Deschamps is in any case very happy that his part of the work is finished. “It’s over for me! » He laughs again with his big, moving laugh. “And I’ll be at the premiere…if I make it!” »
