2023-08-12 11:31:40
It is neither for lack of effort by Culture-Shawinigan, nor for lack of interest on the part of the star that the moment has been delayed. This is due to very down-to-earth but nevertheless complex considerations of reconciling the busy schedule of the astronaut with that of his Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne. And as long as things are done according to the rules of the art, we have added to the delegation the president of the Canadian Space Agency, Lisa Campbell.
Before the performance, David Saint-Jacques, all dressed in his blue jumpsuit, admitted a certain excitement and a lot of curiosity with regard to this piece of which he only knew the text. “I can’t wait to see where the show is today four years after we started working on it with Bryan Perro. I really liked the text but I’m really very curious to see what it looks like on stage.”
“My experience in space has been so extraordinary that I absolutely want to share it and I find it wonderful to do so through a medium like theatre.”
At the official microphone, more concerned with offering an inspiring message to young people, the astronaut encouraged them to dream. “I prefer to speak to young people because they are our future. We need them. Space is a source of dreams for everyone. We are all sensitive to a beautiful sunrise. It’s important to remember that as Earthlings we float through space on our own beautiful but fragile vessel, and I think the rising generation is aware of that.”
“Space is a place where we can still dream of a better world. What happens there is part of our daily life through what satellites offer us, for example. In these somewhat tense times that we are experiencing on the planet, space remains a place where we continue to collaborate between peoples and where we can hope to act to improve things.
“I am very honored to be here and I thank you very much for your welcome, but I must specify that we are not going anywhere alone. I did not go into space with my diplomas but because I dreamed of it when I was young and many adults supported me. Then, when I got to the Canadian Space Agency, thousands of engineers supported me. We often only see the astronaut in the foreground, but behind him, a huge team has been working for decades to perform miracles. We can all be very proud of the Canadian space sector.”
Theater
As for the specific object of his visit, the play written by Bryan Perro and interpreted by Rémi-Pierre Paquin and Anne Trudel, the man of all challenges admitted to a certain reluctance before attending the performance. “It’s intimidating, he hinted, certainly joking but not only. It was an extraordinary experience to work on that with Mr. Perro. The text is in delicate balance between professional and personal history. I admit that I am a little anxious.
That the tone chosen by Bryan Perro is often humorous did not displease the man of science. “I don’t take myself too seriously so that’s fine with me.”
As for the performer Rémi-Pierre Paquin, with whom he ate before the show, he considered the choice to be wise. “At dinner, I asked him to pick me a beer that I was going to like to see if he figured me out, and I can say he did.”
Verdict
Finally, at the end of the play, the astronaut was clearly conquered. “I found that very fair. It’s fictionalized, of course, because it’s theatre, but what’s important, I think, are the emotions, the ambitions, the lessons, and all that is very fair. I liked the rhythm that makes you go from more intense moments to something lighter with sudden breaks in tone. I loved it.”
“I’m happy to have met in Rémi-Pierre Paquin the character that my adventure evokes in the minds of the public: he looks like me. From an emotional, philosophical point of view, I recognized myself. Everything that refers to my family, to my personal life but also to the complicity between crew members in the space station, it really moved me. These are things I’ve talked about in bits and pieces over the years, but to see many of these elements picked up in the room, it’s very touching.”
“All of this was done with accuracy, respect and I’m glad we did it with humor: it feels good to have a little levity in life. Even that it is really very comical at times. Honestly, I’m proud of this play.”
Bryan Perro seems to have killed several birds with one stone since the president of the Canadian Space Agency, Lisa Campbell, was also charmed by Objectif Terre. “It was wonderful. What I really like is that we are sharing the history of the Canadian space program in this way. These are decades of effort, investment and acquired expertise. At this time in history, when we are back to the Moon, we are among the world leaders in space exploration with enormous positive spinoffs here on Earth.”
“The play reaches the public, it shows the humanity behind technological exploits. It shows that it takes someone brave to embark on the adventure but supported by a whole huge team. It’s our role at the agency to make all this known and when we see that we can do it so well with a play that reaches the whole family, it’s really extraordinary.
At the end of its Shawinigan summer on Saturday evening August 12, the play will take a break before going across Quebec for some fifty performances starting in the fall.
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