Family dynamics haunt daughters in Tremblay play

May 08, 2008 04:00 am

— MONTREAL -- The name may sound sweet, but "Forever Yours, Marie-Lou" is not a light-hearted, first-date sort of a play.
The Centaur Theatre's season-closing play starts grim and gets grimmer as it takes a look at the dark side of lives tied together "until death do us part." In fact, the subject matter is so dark that were it not for the interesting layers woven into the script and some fine acting, the play might be unwatchable.
In it, playwright Michel Tremblay gives the audience Leopold, who resembles an Archie Bunker gone over the edge, and his wife Marie-Lou, who is much more jaded than Edith ever was.
At the same time, he portrays their daughters, Manon and Carmen, 10 years into the future. Manon has become a religious recluse, haunted by the ghosts of her parents. Carmen, on the other hand, has become a night-club singer, wearing scanty clothes and reveling in her freedom.
The play is like a microscope, moving in and out, focusing and refocusing. This focusing may seem confusing at first, until devices like lighting changes to indicate the past turning into the present are noticed.
With this refocusing, the audience gets glimmers of new, deeper realities. Certainties cloud and the meaning of a "happy" ending becomes unclear.
The play, which could be unbearable, instead gives audience members food for thought, ideas to mull over and chew on.
Especially worthy of note is an excellent portrayal of Leopold by Alain Goulem, who manages to bring his character to life, taking him through levels of hatred, bitterness, desperation and resignation.
Catherine Fitch also does a fine job with her portrayal of Marie-Louise, bringing her to life as well, although her role is written in more of a bitter monotone.
The play runs at Montreal's Centaur Theatre through May 25.