Impromptu on Nuns' Island

Ian C. Nelson is librarian emeritus and former assistant director of
libraries at the University of Saskatchewan Library. He is also
dramaturge for the Festival de la Dramaturgie des Prairies.

Michel Tremblay claims to eschew dull, overtly political theatre by
writing what he calls “fables.” Perhaps. His new embarrassment of
riches strives to be a personal version of Reza’s Art. Billed as a
satirical comedy, Impromptu on Nuns’ Island blasts shibboleths of
theatrical performance, fame, and politics with a shotgun.

After a disastrous performance at the Opéra Bastille in Paris, diva
Patricia Pasquetti (née Patsy Paquett), returns to her posh home in
Montreal. There she and her actor-daughter exchange barbs about
Patricia’s international pretensions and how she denies her
Québécois roots. Patricia decides to rescue her reputation with an
impromptu recital and summons Richard, her “pet poodle” of an
accompanist, to work. Then her mother, Estelle, a formidable actress in
her 60s, arrives. A verbal tornado, Estelle brings perspective to the
situation.

Estelle virtually takes over the rest of the play in a cunningly
disguised monologue of observations one is seriously tempted to ascribe
directly to Tremblay: “When Québec [or Canada] gives you a medal they
expect you to stay on their side, even if you no longer live there […]
I’ve never been muzzled by my political opinions […] My
responsibility is to be good on stage. My political choices can be
reflected in [my work], but I refuse to appear on stage draped in a
flag!” (In 1999, Tremblay received a Governor General’s Award that
Quebec nationalists expected him to refuse; he had previously refused
the Order of Canada in 1990.)

Prissy Parisian French cramping the corners of Québécois mouths is
given its usual drubbing, which brings us to the question of
translation. Linda Gaboriau’s English translation of the original
L’Йtat des lieux always has the feel of coming from another language
in both what is said and the way it is uttered. It’s a whirlwind,
exotic and comical.