Anglo theatre: Michel Tremblay’s «For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again»: It’s All About the Mom

by Yanik Comeau (Comunik Média / ZoneCulture)

   To close a beautiful season and re-open the Montreal theatre institution’s biggest of two venues, Centaur Theatre Artistic Director Eda Holmes chose a local playwright who, like other Montreal playwrights (Steve Galluccio, Michel Marc Bouchard, David Fennario), has not only given the company some of its biggest successes but has also seen his plays produced at the four corners of the planet, making Montreal shine on stages everywhere: Michel Tremblay. Keeping up and even boosting the tradition of creating bridges between the “two solitudes”, Holmes, who herself has directed two plays in French in two of Montreal’s biggest francophone theatres in less than a decade and has opened the Centaur to coproductions with French language theatres (notably Cyclorama with the Centre du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui), has once again pledged her “Francophility” and love for this great city.

Ellen David is magnificent in Nana's Huguette Oligny monologue. (Photo: Andrée Lanthier)

   Am I surprised that Eda Holmes' decision to re-open Centaur 2 after two years of renovations with a new production of For the Pleasure of Seeing her Again, Montréal's own Michel Tremblay's ode to his mama, is a stroke of genius? Nope. Am I surprised that Linda Gaboriau's very local, respectful, "home-grown" English translation is so close to the original that you almost feel that the characters are talking in Michel Tremblay's vernacular français québécois/joual? Not really. Am I surprised that Alice Ronfard's first experience directing in English, diving into another Tremblay play after her colossal 12-hour collage La Traversée du siècle, is so seamless? Nope. Am I surprised that powerhouse Ellen David is absolutely stunning and perfect as Nana and that Ronfard's muse and La Traversée du siècle “narrator” Emmanuel Schwartz is just as impeccable as this piece's "narrator"? Nope. Centaur Theatre's new production of For the Pleasure of Seeing her Again is delightfully moving, funny, refreshing. It is "feel-good" theatre at its best... in a time where GOD KNOWS (I mean, "gosh", sorry Nana!) we need it.

Emmanuel Schwartz's subtle voice pitch and slight accent changes (from child to adult) are spot on.

   Gabriel Tsampalieros’ under-stated, trompe-l’oeil set is brilliantly lit by Julie Basse’s light magic showing here why directors everywhere are pulling at her to work with them. With shadows and smartly placed projectors, the audience is pulled into breathtakingly smart slight-of-hand images. With Cynthia St-Gelais’ costumes and Joris Rey’s moving sound design – not to mention the beautiful, awe-inspiring visual surprise that contributes to bringing tears to the audience’s eyes in the last few minutes of the piece -, Encore une fois si vous permettez’s English revival had us wanting even more. Maybe a translation of Enfant insignifiant! in 2026-2027?

Ellen David's chemistry with "son" Emmanuel Schwartz is as sweet and strong as it is palpable.

For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again by Michel Tremblay Translated by Linda Gaboriau Directed by Alice Ronfard Starring Ellen David and Emmanuel Schwartz Set Designer: Gabriel Tsampalieros Costume Designer: Cynthia St-Gelais Lighting Designer: Julie Basse Sound Designer: Joris Rey Stage Manager: Danielle Laurin Assistant Stage Manager: Elyse Quesnel A Centaur Theatre Company production From May 13th to June 1st, 2025 (duration: 1h40, no intermission) *** The performances on Thursday, May 22 at 8PM, Friday, May 23 at 8PM and Saturday, May 24 at 2PM will include French surtitles. Centaur Theatre, 453, rue Saint-François-Xavier, Vieux-Montréal Reservations: 514-288-3161 Information: https://centaurtheatre.com/shows/for-the-pleasure-of-seeing-her-again/ Photos: Andrée Lanthier