Feb 14, 2018


One of the region’s best-kept secrets in its own right, The Centre Culturel Frontenac has been steadfast in showcasing some of French Ontario and Canada’s best-kept secrets in the areas of live music, theatre and comedy. The 2017-18 offerings have been wide ranging: from the quirky, charming musical stylings of a denim-clad acoustic band, to an uproarious and poignant white-trash comedic play, to a songwriters’ circle featuring an eclectic mix of emerging Franco-Ontarian musicians.

The CCF also brings in well-renowned French-Canadian talent. In recent months, comedian Philippe Laprise and singer-songwriter Luc de la Rocheliere have made appearances.

Founded in 1978, the CCF began operations in earnest in 1982 in a century home on Frontenac Street before moving in 1996 into its current location on Dalton Avenue. To this day, its mandate remains to unite the francophone community, but its programming appeals to a wide audience. As Executive Director Chantal Prud’homme explains, the organization aims to reach the entirety of the Frontenac region, as well as the Thousand Islands, including non-French speakers. Plays are generally subtitled and, explains Prud’homme, “there is a richness and a musicality to the language that make it accessible without understanding everything that is said.”

Prud’homme notes that one of the priorities of the CCF is to promote French Language artists and productions from within Ontario. Théâtre français de Toronto, along with theatre company l’Irréductible petit peuple, present the play “Avant l’archipel,” On February 21. It is an unconventional love story of a woman who grows dragonfruit and relies on her tears to sustain them. When she falls in love with a troubadour and is no longer prone to crying, her livelihood is threatened. Matters are further complicated when, in an effort to save the fruit, she cries so much that the peninsula she lives on floods and becomes an island, cutting her off from her lover.

The play is driven by the two lead characters, Brevelaire – the troubadour and Lenaique, the dragonfuit farmer. Much of the story is presented through song – duets sung by the pair with Brevelaire’s ukulele accompaniment. Throughout, the actors improvise and summon audience participation, which gives each performance moments of humour distinct to that evening’s audience.

The remainder of the 2017-18 season includes a contemporary dance performance late March, a spoken-word arts concert early April, and a French-language comedy gala late May. Performances are held at the CCF’s Octave Theatre, 711 Dalton Avenue.

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