Talisman Theatre Presents English-Language Debut of BILLY (THE DAYS OF HOWLING), Now thru Oct 25

It's getting colder; you can feel the chill in the air. Are people more critical the frostier it gets? Wrap up warmly and judge for yourself when Talisman Theatre presents the World English-language premiere of Billy (The Days of Howling) from today, Oct. 14-25 at Theatre La Chapelle. Written by Québecois playwright/actor Fabien Cloutier, translated by Nadine Desrochers and directed by Emma Tibaldo, the perfectly-cast actors are Davide Chiazzese, Susan Glover and Nadia Verrucci in this affecting howl against stupidity and prejudice.

When Alice's mother sees Billy eating Cheetos on his way to daycare, it kick-starts a spiral of obsession, double standards and maternal madness. Billy (The Days of Howling) is a beautifully rhythmic piece questioning the complexities of living up to the high standards we often set for ourselves and others. Three characters, who view each other as lesser or wanting, unleash a collective catharsis and are confronted by the repercussions of unforgiving judgments and distorted views. Billy (The Days of Howling) makes us reflect on our vision of community; why we can't move forward as a society and why we are unable to really engage with one another. And yet the characters are deeply moving, each with a weakness, a sadness that they carry daily.

Director Emma Tibaldo queries whether words have repercussions and just how responsible we are for what we say, "At a time when people can post anonymously on the internet, when government uses language such as 'terrorists' and 'human traffickers' to describe asylum seekers, how can we ignore the play's howl." For Tibaldo, the play starts with one Cheeto and ends tragically. How we get there is a lesson in navigating stereotypes and misconceptions. She continues, "We are base: we must acknowledge our baseness and struggle against it. We must struggle for enlightenment -- strive to be better because otherwise we can be easily sucked down the path of hatred, becoming completely dismissive of others. Billy (The Days of Howling) is a call to look beyond our tiny circle, to embrace others and their ways." Deceptively straight forward, the play is a labyrinth through time and the complex psychology of the three protagonists- Alice's Mother, The Admin Lady and Billy's Father.

"People skills. I need to work on my people skills." - The Admin Lady

Playwright Fabien Cloutier's Billy (The Days of Howling) marks Talisman Theatre's third commissioned translation. This play's language and cultural references are more grounded in contemporary Québécois reality than any of their previous productions. For translator Nadine Desrochers (The Medea Effect, The Flood Thereafter), the gloves are off in Billy (The Days of Howling). Or, if they were ever on, they were so thin and frail that they were bound to disintegrate at the slightest provocation. She explains, "The language is crude, it bites with sharp humour and jagged, uneven cuts; with patterns that go unnoticed until their profound and uncomfortable implications become unavoidable. The play forces us to confront not only that darker side of our humanity, but the idea that sometimes we might actually revel in it and choose to howl, with great and cruel delight."

"Minus 27. That's really rare. A lot of snow and bitter cold at the same time." - Alice's Mother

In this freezing landscape that forces people into action, co-set designers Lyne Paquette- Talisman Theatre's artistic director, and Fruzsina Layni's creative 'snowfall' of white teddy bears sets the tone. The talented design team has collaborated together on many Talisman Theatre productions: David Perreault Ninacs, lights; Fruzsina Layni costumes; and Micheal Leon, sound design and composer. The stage manager is Rachel Dawn Woods.

DETAILS:

Billy (The Days of Howling)

Talisman Theatre

Playing at Theatre La Chapelle, 3700 rue St. Dominique

October 14-25; Opening Night is Wednesday, October 15
Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 pm. Matinee: Sat., Oct. 25 at 3:00 pm

Tickets: $29 regular, $25 students 514 843-7738 or purchase online: La Chapelle box office
Special early-bird tickets $22 until Oct. 11 with the code word 'Howling'
Tuesdays, October 14 and 21 - regular priced tickets are 2 for 1

Post-show talkback series: Thurs. Oct. 16, Fri. Oct. 17 and Sat. matinee Oct. 25

Talisman Theatre's mission is to produce English-language premières of contemporary Québécois works,
bringing the visceral intensity of Québécois theatrical practice to non-Francophones. For more information, visit www.talisman-theatre.com.

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