A seminal piece of Quebec literature and cinema, Le Matou is coming to the stage for the first time as a musical that is as entertaining as it is moving, celebrating the 40th anniversary of this homegrown gem. A troupe of 13 actors bring to life the famous characters dreamed up by Yves Beauchemin, in addition to introducing the audience to new original songs that are an integral part of the story.
First a book that sold millions of copies, it was translated into 16 languages, adapted to the big screen and won several awards around the world. Le Matou revolutionized its era and left an indelible mark on the hearts of several generations of Quebecers. Audiences will be transported back to the Montréal and customs of the ’70s, featuring Plateau Mont-Royal and the La Binerie restaurant of the time, where they will find young Monsieur Émile, his tomcat Déjeuner and all the characters in their lives. They will also be delighted to rediscover Le Matou’s enduring appeal.
Le Matou takes us back to 1974, into the lives of a young Montréal couple, Élise and Florent, who have long dreamed of opening a restaurant. The diabolical Egon Ratablavasky suddenly appears, offering them their dream on a silver platter. The adventure quickly turns nightmarish when the couple learns they’ve been scammed and have lost everything. But they still have their dream and decide to take revenge by going back into business with the help of a boy with no known address, a spirited cook and a nosy journalist. Élise and Florent will have to accept all the help they can get, sometimes coming from the oddest of places…
Le Matou is a joyful, unifying musical that is both funny and touching. The acting, singing and dancing by the top-notch cast bring this iconic tale and slice of our cultural heritage vividly back to life.
