Malaise dans la civilisation

Presented in partnership with Série B Some tourists show up at a theatre with no regard for decorum. By turns fearful or amused, clownish or careless, the four stooges explore, play, and test both themselves and the audience through a series of mundane, minor accidents. The absurdity sometimes becomes thought-provoking when they awkwardly ask philosophical questions. This small sample of humanity, linked together by improbable situations, gradually transforms the empty space of the stage into a universe filled with possibilities. Through the sharp wit of their dramaturgy, the shrewd creative partnership of Alix Dufresne and Étienne Lepage shakes up both social and theatrical conventions, experimenting with the porous boundaries between the stage and the spaces reserved for the audience. Strange and playful, Malaise dans la civilisation allows us to observe complex, fascinating beings who innocently venture to the limits of morality. It’s touching—and disturbing. Premiered at Festival TransAmériques, Montreal, on May 28, 2022