Les Belles-soeurs, a classic Canadian show first produced in 1968 in Quebec, will this month have its English debut on the west coast at Gateway Theatre, marking its 50th anniversary.
鈥淭he whole play happens in a kitchen, in one evening, among 15 women, and happens almost in real time,鈥� France Perras, who plays the main character in the show, said to the Richmond News.
In 1960s Montreal, housewife Germaine Lauzon has won one million Gold Star stamps that she can trade in for gifts or household goods.
But first she needs to pin all the stamps to a booklet to win the award, so she invites all her sisters, friends and neighbours for a stamp-sticking party.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like winning a giant $6 million dollars nowadays,鈥� said Perras.
鈥淪o there are conversations and the whole thing unravels. Basically everybody gets very jealous, and would like those million stamps for themselves. And a bit of breakdown happens.鈥�
Perras said the show is comedic with some darker undertones.
鈥淭he playwright Michel Tremblay wanted to present a picture of what society was like in 1965 Quebec,鈥� said Perras.
鈥淭hese women were repressed. They worked very very hard, and they were kind of put down. He wanted to show what that reality was like on stage.鈥�
Now 50 years later, a lot of the topics talked about in the play are still relevant to people, according to Perras.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so crazy because it鈥檚 still very very apropos,鈥� she said.
鈥淭here is judgement, there is envy, and there is everybody that wants more than they have - so a lot of consumerism and how we want so much, and how the society is built up in that way.鈥�
She said the play also dives into women鈥檚 relationships and everyday situations in society.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very interesting how it鈥檚 still quite present-day 鈥� mother and daughters not getting along, sisters not getting along, relationships, friendships, religion, all that stuff.鈥�
Perras said having a show with 15 women on the stage all at the same time is a 鈥渘ice treat.鈥�
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 see that often; it鈥檚 beautiful,鈥� she said.
鈥淵ou get to see 15 women who all work in theatre, often in town in 麻豆传媒映画鈥� some of the most talented women on stage right now, and they are all on the same stage. That is a huge highlight of the show.鈥�
Les Belles-soeurs, produced by Ruby Slippers Theatre, will show at Gateway Theatre from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6. For more information, check GatewayTheatre.com/Les-Belles-soeurs.
