Foray into the killer years of AIDS Never wipe your tears without gloves offers a touching portrait of this hecatomb that claimed 30 million lives in the 1980s.
On show at Trident to 1is April, a theatrical adaptation of Jonas Gardel’s novel by Veronique Côté, takes us with realism to this dark period and the spirit of sexual freedom of that time.
Never wipe your tears without gloves follows Rasmus, 19, who arrives in Stockholm and a group of friends in search of freedom, love and happiness, gathered around the very flamboyant Paul.
Rasmus will meet Benjamin and fall in love with this young man stuck in the world of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At the same time, an unidentified virus dubbed “gay cancer” is spreading and starting to wreak havoc on society.
The work of director Alexander Fekto from the team “We are here” is a performance lasting 3:30 with an intermission. Duration, which at first glance may seem insurmountable, but it is not at all. We pass easily.
In addition to delving into the intimacy of these HIV-affected and affected characters, we find narrative elements that trace key moments led by homosexuals. Moments sometimes filled with disappointment in the face of intransigence and certain clichés of the time.
Olivier Artaud and Maxime Beauregard-Martin did an excellent job as Rasmus and Benjamin. Artaud delivers a very strong pre-intermission moment against his parents, played by Hugues Frenette and Erica Gagnon. Everyone is playing well. We believe.
Special mention deserves Maxim Robin, who fits into the skin of the bright Paul. He demonstrates tremendous performance as the person who is the center of this small community that overcomes difficulties together.
live music
Alexander Fekto’s production is successful due to the excellent use of the stage space and the varied images of the coffins. We may have overused the water falling from the sky and collecting on the stage. The water associated with the slaughter that falls on the shoulders of this community.
The pianist and string trio on stage interpret the soundtrack around concert in my mine Felix Mendelssohn. A presence that we see more and more and that greatly enhances the theatrical experience.
The theme may seem heavy at first glance, but the humor is present throughout the piece. We are not only in drama.
Medicine has evolved, and the HIV virus, which claimed the lives of 40 million people, is no longer so deadly 40 years later. Never wipe your tears without gloves it is a successful return to the not so distant past, which is not necessarily known to everyone and shows the solidarity of the community.
