As the leaves turn red and fall sets in, Bourgie Hall’s fall season begins. Located in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the venue, which was once the Erskine and American Church, now hosts an array of artists and concerts. In this hall full of stained glass and resonance, Les Veilleuses played on September 24th. Choreographed and created by Simon Renaud, the show bases itself on the tale told through the song Blanche Comme La Neige, which tells the story of a woman who fakes death to escape knights who wish to take advantage of her. Following this horrific event, she finds solace and shelter with a community of presences who understand and look after each other, Les Veilleuses. As the story progresses, they reflect each other’s emotions and turn into a shared material, forming an understanding that transcends words and the physical realm.
The show was delivered by a diverse and talented cast of 9 women, weaving together dance and a capella song. Each actress was dressed in a distinct yellow dress, blending together with the lighting to create a harmonious scene. The story is centered on the actress portraying Blanche Neige, while the others echo her emotions through dance and song. One thing that the show did spectacularly well was the portrayal of the unity of the presences and the woman. A particular instance is when the girls are expressing Blanche Neige’s pain and anger, the emotion feels as if it was passed onto another presence, who then passes it on to another. The emotion was amplified through each transfer, which further made the audience feel as if they were watching one large entity instead of several distinct individuals.
The vocal performances were powerful and precise, and each actress had her distinct vocal style, which blended seamlessly in well-arranged harmonies all throughout the show. Some instances also felt like living art, with the women positioned to create a semblance of a tableau vivant, which was beautifully creative and incredibly fitting given the location of Bourgie Hall. Overall, this piece felt unique, harmonious, and was truly a joy to experience during these beautiful autumn months. In the glow of stained glass and song, Les Veilleuses lingered like the turning of the leaves: fleeting, poignant, and unforgettable.
