Montreal traveling play “Fortissimo!” promotes artistic expression, friendship

A Montreal based theatre group are on tour presenting people of all ages with a new musical play for free from June 28 to August 16. 

“Fortissimo!” is described as an ‘ode to friendship, a snub to the quest for perfection and an invitation to artistic expression’ and tells the story of a young Mozart’s recital in New France.

The traveling musical play is shown from Théâtre La Roulotte, the oldest children’s theatre in Québec to offer Montrealer’s an evening of free performances.

The travelling children’s theatre has been touring Montreal since 1952 with close to 50 captivating free shows offered annually at more than 40 parks in the city.

Sofia Blondin, the play director says the story follows the Mozart Family who are in love with music as they wander throughout the world and ‘stop’ in Montreal to visit the Marquis of Montreal.

“Of course we all know about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but he also had a sister, Maria, who was also in love with music and also very talented, but did not have the same spotlight than her brother,” Blondin said.

Part of the cities summer cultural programming, “Fortissimo!” and Théâtre La Roulotte are partnered with the National Theater School of Canada, the Montreal Conservatory of Dramatic Art and the Center for Dramatic Authors (CEAD).

Blondin has participated in more than fifteen theater and television productions with over six years experience being the director of the CEGEP Jean-de-Brébeuf troupe offering theater workshops. She said one of the many things that gravitated her to this story is the comedy and ability to expose others to the arts while learning about yourself.

“I hope people get energized by this, you know, just this living form of art that will happen in front of them, the magic of theater. But then also this story.”

Author and writer Maxime Champagne said the show includes over a dozen songs with musical acts, as the show focuses heavily on music, art, and comedy.

” I really want the audience to learn that music is great, that you don’t need to be perfect at music and the most important thing is that music can bring people together,” Champagne said.

“Fortissimo!” actors Léonard Turgeon and Lula Brouillette-Lucien say the show is meant for all ages with relatable themes that talk about peoples constant desire to be perfect. Brouillette-Lucien added it was always her dream to be in a musical and to show youth a fun time while enjoying the outdoors.

“Even though it’s a play for kids, it’ll probably relate to adults too,” Turgeon said. “It’s okay not being perfect and sometimes you drop the ball and you just pick it back up and that’s it,” Turgeon said.  

Blondin said the tour is expected to stop in Ville Saint-Laurent, the Plateau, and Hochelaga among other stops in the city.

“If I was a child and I was hearing about this little kid that was putting too much pressure on himself, I’m sure that young Sophia, maybe I would have taken something from that and maybe it would have changed my life, you know, at some point. So I think that that’s the power and the beauty of art,” Blondin said.