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On June 8th, we went back stage with Jade Ghalila, director of "Je pense donc je suis”, a few minutes after the Générale devant Public* at La Maison des Amis du Plateau Mont-Royal, a community oriented, non-profit organization. Here is the conversation, translated into English from the original French-language interview.

*Fun fact: Générale devant Public means the dress rehearsal in front of a live theatre audience.

Frantz: How’s the stress level?

Jade: Way lower than at the beginning of the night. The presentation went way better than expected. They were some mistakes here and there, but simply some minor wardrobe malfunctions. Nothing we can’t fix.

Frantz: I thought the play was supposed to last 60 minutes, it was all over in 40.

Jade: Yup, it’s on purpose! I know the play is around 45 minutes, so I reserved an hour at the Fringe to make sure we had some time margin at the start and end of our presentation.

Frantz: Well planned.

Jade: So any other questions?

Frantz: Here I was, believing I’d just enjoy this nice moment with you in silence…What’s your SIN number? Where were you at 8’oclock last night? What are you doing right now?

Jade: (Laughs) last night? I was nowhere in particular. Just at work.

Frantz: Where do you work?

Jade: At a candy shop downtown. Been there since I was 16, so for the past 10 years when I think about it. I know about all the candy in the world!

Frantz: Wow, so you’re basically Candy Girl, giver of joy.

Jade: Yup and in someway it’s related to why I wanted to do a comedy this year. There’s just so much sadness in the world, you know (laughs). That’s no good! People must laugh!

Frantz: That’s what you had in mind when you picked the 5 monologues you’re presenting?

Jade: Definitely! And it’s not because it isn’t sad and heavy that it’s thoughtless. Also, François, the first actor to monologue, plays an excerpt from “Je suis d’un would be pays” from Godin which isn’t a comedy, but fits with the theme.

Frantz: And that’s a play written in the 70’s … No, in 2007. You’re putting on text ranging from Shakespeare to some more contemporary stuff.

Jade: Yup, “Sols” and “La Sagouine” are from the 1970s and then you have Jennifer’s monologue that’s REALLY contemporary.

Frantz: Monologue that was written yesterday or 15 minutes ago.

Jade: (laugh) She’s always changing lines before and during presentation. Changing and mixing. And all of the play is about mixes. We have a English text along French ones. And there’s also a wide scope in the ages and ethnic background of our actors’ line up. I really wanted to make something that was and felt diverse when tackling the subject of identity.

(Jennifer Ilfra, actress and auteur of “Mayo, Bacon, Cheese, Identité”, bursts in the room.)

Jennifer: Sorry to interrupt, but your mom says you have to hurry, Jade.

Jade: She always says that. Come and have a seat.

(Jennifer proceeds and sits down with Jade)

Jade: All this started when I was talking with my best friend Mitsuko and our common friend here, Jennifer. And Jennifer was into writing funny stuff, I asked her to produce something for the Fringe (festival). She would write a text and the other excerpts would be picked in function of that. And every day, until yesterday, she proposed a different text.

Jennifer: I swear I’m done with the editing now. It’s final. Except for the one sentence … But it’s final!

(Everyone laughs)

Jade: So yeah, we were exchanging on how everyone has a distinctive way of dodging when having to present himself at parties and social events …

Jennifer: Personally, I take a deep breath, find something to eat or drink and forget what I was asked about in the first place.

Frantz: That’s really the worst question: “Who are you?”

Jennifer: No, that would be a great question!

Jade: “Who are you” means you can truly speak and go in details. Instead you usually get asked: “What are you doing?” To which you answer: “Hi, I’m Jade and I work in a Candy shop”. Because that particular question generally translates to: “How much do you make?”. “La Sagouine” was chosen to reflect that aspect of the search for identity.

All the monologues work like that. François starts thinking in terms of passports and linguistic barriers between France and Quebec. Koichi answers with the “To Be” by pointing the necessity of taking upon oneself. Joannie comes in with “La Sagouine”.

Philippe discourses on studying and diplomas and social status with “Sols”. Jennifer closes with a particular neologism that well summarizes our thought on the whole issue.

(Jennifer leaves to talk with the venue manager since we were going over the Troupe’s allocated time.)

Frantz: So since we’re so short on time –  The killer question! What other show would you recommend at the Fringe?

Jade: “Clara veut être actrice”, which everybody agrees shows great potential. And “Myth Mirrors Punk” which also deals with the question of identity, but through storytelling, which is awesome. That’s why Fringe is so cool, it gives the opportunity to young people to experiment and do stuff for which they’d otherwise fine no venue or exposure.

The bilingual play “Je pense donc je suis” premieres at the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival on Friday, June 12th at the Espace 4001, 4001 Berri Street.

Learn more on this play either by visiting their Fringe Festival Page here, and the play’s official home page managed by Jade and her sister Audrey, over here.

In addition, the troupe in charge of this play, Les Justes d’Albert, is organizing a giant musical chair event at the Fringe Park, called Albert Big Musical Chair, on Friday June 19th. The event includes a mysterious and alluring price for the winner.

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Frantz-Patrice Séïde Cameau is part of CJLO’s Official Fringe Team covering the sights and sounds from the 2015 St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival.

You can contact Frantz via email: lobster.mtl@gmail.com

Special thanks to Noémie Monnereau for providing the photographs.