Review: JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL and Having a Great Time at Mainline Theatre

If Jacques Brel were alive and well and living in Montreal today, he would enjoy watching In Your Face entertainment's production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, which runs at the Mainline Theatre through March 24. The show is a revue of Belgian folk singer Jacques Brel's music. The original 1968 off-Broadway production ran for more than four years and, and a film was made in 1975. This production marks its bilingual premiere in Montreal.

The Mainline is an intimate black box theatre, the perfect setting for this production, which is presented on a minimal set by four actors and four musicians. There is no plot, just music woven together with brief commentary, and the actors take turns portraying Brel.

The music is the centerpiece of the show. The songs range from somber and contemplative to downright fun, and they are well sung by Martin Provost, Alisha Ruiss, Serge Turcotte, and Nadia Verrucci (who also co-directed the production). Mr. Turcotte gets some of the most vocally complex numbers, but he handles them with ease and wins the award for vocal interpretation and expression. Ms. Verrucci is featured less, having only one solo ("Sons Of"), but her fabulous facial expressions draw the eye no matter where she is on stage. "The Bulls," with a Spanish dance number between Mr. Turcotte and Ms. Verrucci, is one of the highlights.

Ms. Ruiss has a rich and expressive voice that could easily fill Salle Wilfred-Pelletier. She provides some of the most emotional moments of the evening, with the songs "J'aimais," "My Death," and "Marieke." Mr. Provost seems less comfortable than the others but mainly during his solos ("Seul" and "Fanette"). He is utterly charming in the comic roles ("Girls and Dogs," "Carousel") and often has the look of a mischievous boy who knows he's going to get away with it.

The cast works particularly well as an ensemble, especially during "Madeleine" and "Carousel." The music is excellently played by a four-piece band composed of musical director David Terriault (piano), Louis Stein (guitar), Cole Birney-Stewart (bass), and Parker Bert (drums).

Because this show is really all about the music, any production needs to be careful not to overshadow it through excessive staging. Co-directors Jacqueline Van de Geer and Nadia Verrucci opt for simplicity in the set, lighting, and costumes. The set consists of a park bench, a café table, a wide four-platform staircase, and a ladder. In some numbers, the actors themselves serve as moving set-pieces. The lighting design is mostly limited to spots on the soloists and full lighting for the ensemble numbers. Simple pieces, like a hat and cape, are used to suggest costumes, and some of the props are imaginary. It works well, providing different levels and spaces for the actors to inhabit, while not being visually distracting. The only questionable piece is the ladder. Whether the actors were sitting on it or leaning against it, their use of ladder was a bit awkward. There were also some moments when the staging felt forced and the extra action unnecessary.

But these are very small things. For the most part, this show is just fun and perfect for music lovers, musical lovers, and anyone else looking for an evening's entertainment.

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris runs at Mainline Theatre, 3997 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, through March 24. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students. For more information, go to www.mainlinetheatre.ca.

Photo Credit: Marie Eve Kingsley

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