Presented in Vancouver by Théâtre la Seizième they welcomed internationally renowned, Montreal-based theatre company The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts) for a limited run at the Vancouver Playhouse. What a fun show as it was, with elements of kookiness, brilliant acrobatic and choreographic prowess. With the addition of sound, smell, touch, and taste (!) to their always-innovative aesthetic mix, this made Cuisine & Confessions becomes a theatrical feast.
A virtuosic mélange of circus, avant-garde dance, personal narrative, theatre, and cooking show comedy, Cuisine & Confessions explores stories from our family kitchens – food prepared, memories made – and rituals that underpin our most important relationships.
Cuisine & Confessions was built on the real-life personal stories of each cast member. Creation began with extensive story-telling sessions, and directors Shana Carroll and Sébastien Soldevila extracted facts, themes, and images and wove them throughout each act, all based on these real stories. As well, the entire soundtrack was created specifically for Cuisine & Confessions. Notable New York jazz club owner Spike Wilner collaborated with Soldevila who also serves as a musical director, in Montreal, for extensive recording sessions, providing a bank of music from which to choose.
Food preparation begins on stage during the 30-minute pre-show and continues during the performance, at various times with assistance from audience members. From the moment the house opens through to the final bows, food is always cooking – from an omelet, to vegetable pasta, to the signature banana bread.
The cast has collected postcards from every city they’ve toured and placed them on the set’s refrigerator, making it an ever-evolving set piece.
Every family has its own way of sharing responsibilities, and the Cuisine & Confessions family is no different. Cooking creates a mess, and at the end of each performance, a different cast member cleans up the dishes in the working on-stage sink, adhering to a scheduled rotation.
The show was very well done and pure enjoyment throughout.
