Standing behind the brass and woodwinds, a timekeeper of the orchestra, the percussion section is ever subdividing. Not flashes, nor noise, nor coughs, nor wrong notes … nor even time signature changes can deter the unstoppable marching of time kept - a treasure - whithin the percussionnists cranium. Suddenly, the 258 bars of rest come to an end and, sticks fluttering over the timpani, the percussionist rolls to a fortissimo culmination! And rest….

Dark ink on white pages guide this meditation through Dvorak's 9th symphony, an exploration of the enticing new world. As the strings, tripleting along the 4th movement, march toward the infamous mezzo forte piatti note, cymbals gleam in the stage lights, ready for their solo. In an instant, a crisp crash of brass pierces the calm air and glides along seven counted beats. The smell of leather straps and pencil lead mix around stand number 3, and Dvoraks musical exploration goes on.

All the while, the 4 other stands stand by, counting, savoring, listening to the choral in front of them. Every note is an opportunity for flight, above their too tight dress shoes, above the wobbly music stands, above the poorly placed lights shining at just the right angle to simultaneously blind the players and leave the sheets of to-be sounds in darkness. It sounds like a doozy, but it is an amazing journey, truly. A journey across chords, notes, tuning changes. A journey through time, beats, but also instruments. A journey through the fascinating art of composition, interpretation, performance and listening.

The symphony ends, 45 minutes later. It felt like nothing, but simultaneously everything. Still standing, the percussion section can stop subdividing.

Time slips away like water through my cupped hands as I scramble to clean up and change,

—Only to realize that the moment I was chasing has already dissolved.

It lingers in fragments, half-forgotten words, the scent of rain on pavement, or the warmth of sunlight,

—That’s now just a memory on my skin.

It flows in strange currents, sometimes dragging slowly, like a lazy river, and other times rushing by in a flood, sweeping me off my feet,

—Before I can catch my breath.

I try to hold on to it, taking pictures, writing in journals, filling up calendars,

—Doing whatever I can to preserve the moments before they vanish.

Birthdays, sunsets, old conversations,

—They blur together into snapshots in my mind.

But even as time slips away, each moment is still a chance

—Brief, fleeting, mine to hold, if only for a little while.

Écrit en écho au spectacle Le virus et la proie au CNA en novembre 2023, ce texte (et autres du même projet) s'adresse à un "toi", un "monsieur", une figure de pouvoir interchangeable, afin de s'attaquer à des enjeux sociaux.

Bonsoir,

Comment vons-je? Comment se porte votre monopole qui passe l'éponge?

Y pensez-vous, vous dont on n'ose prononcer le nom, à ce que vous nous faites?

La déception me ronge, mais je vais lui faire fête.

Ça commence avec un petit dérangement, une visite chez le médecin.

On cherche un remède, mais le monde n'offre rien.

Puis, ça tourne mal, mais l'hôpital est plein!

— l'assurance ne couvre rien, les râdins.

Mais de quel droit? On n'en sait rien.

Il faut chercher ailleurs, l'infection fermente bien.

Et puis, comme toujours, on partage avec notre voisin.

Les scientifiques disent que c'est une pandémie, qu'ils ny peuvent rien.

Tels des petits vers, on est laissés à nos moyens.

Puis, ils nous cachent le problème, mais on sait que la famille, vous 'en foutez bien!

C'est un vrai cataclysme qui s'abbat du ciel.

— voici votre facture, annonce le médecin.

Toi, un Vautour, tu attends ta prochaine proie,

Moi, ici, je t'attends. Réponds un peu, qu'on t'entende — toi.

Cast of characters

The Brainstormers:

Brainstormer 1 – "The Visionary"

Always full of big, ambitious ideas, constantly trying to pitch deep, complex, and often overly dramatic storylines. They think every idea needs a grand arc and complex character development, even for the simplest concepts. Frequently says things like "This needs to say something."

Brainstormer 2 – "The Overly Technical One"

Obsessed with structure and rules of playwriting, constantly quoting guides and templates for perfect play construction. They talk in jargon, suggesting detailed plot points like a machine. Often tries to stop the creative flow to talk about "the importance of the three-act structure" or "how we need more rising action."

Brainstormer 3 – "The Philosopher"

Loves to overcomplicate things by getting existential, constantly questioning the nature of creativity, writing, and even the meaning of words themselves. When asked about plot details, they’ll respond with something like, "But what is a character?" or "Is a play just a reflection of our inner turmoil?"

Brainstormer 4 – "The Pessimist"

Shoots down almost every idea with sarcastic and overly negative commentary. Constantly says things like, "That'll never work," or "This whole thing is doomed." They add a deadpan tone to the group, contrasting the overenthusiasm of others, which could be a great source of dark humor.

Brainstormer 5 – "The Wildcard"

A chaotic creative force, full of random ideas that make no sense within the context of the play. For example, when everyone is discussing a serious scene, they’ll suddenly suggest adding a dinosaur, or they'll pitch the idea of the entire play happening on the moon with no further explanation. Their ideas often derail the group’s train of thought in humorous ways.

The Background Actors:

Actor 1 – "The Confused One"

Struggles to keep up with the constant changes in ideas and characters. Their confusion is a source of comedy—constantly appearing in the wrong costumes or using the wrong accents. They ask for clarification but never get a straight answer, increasing their frustration and comedic impact.

Actor 2 – "The Perfectionist"

Takes their role way too seriously, even though they are constantly asked to change characters and perform ridiculous scenes. They attempt to "stay in character" regardless of how absurd the situation is, often leading to awkward moments when their serious delivery contrasts with the bizarre scenes unfolding around them.

Actor 3 – "The Overly Dramatic One"

Delivers every line and action as though it’s the most important scene in the world, no matter how trivial or comedic the moment is. They milk every emotional beat, turning even simple stage directions like "walk" into exaggerated displays of emotion. When things go wrong, they react with extreme frustration or melodrama, much to the audience’s delight.

Actor 4 – "The Resigned One"

At some point, they give up on trying to keep up with the brainstorming and changes. They start going along with the chaos with an "I don’t care anymore" attitude, creating comedic moments where they are visibly and humorously checked out, doing the bare minimum to keep up with the scenes.

Actor 5 – "The Physical Comedy Expert"

A master of physical comedy, constantly tripping over things, bumping into props, or messing up costume changes. They are the visual source of humor, frequently turning costume malfunctions or stage mix-ups into a full comedic bit

Scene

A writer’s room in Ottawa

Time

Present, mid-day

Setting: We are in a writer’s room in Ottawa. The stage is stripped down to a bare black box with but a table and chairs for the writers in stage center. The background actors initially located upstage have access to minimal props and costumes and flexible stage areas. There are movable platforms and spotlights for the characters.

At rise: ACTORS 1-5 roam around upstage, behind a table and chairs in stage center. ACTOR 1 seems lost, attempting to tie a clown shoe on one foot and a boot on the other. ACTOR 5 bumps into a table and stubs their toe.

Enter BRAINSTORMERSfive, in numerical order

BRAINSTORMER 1 (with passion, to BRAINSTORMER 3)

You must hear this! Truly original! Incomparably unique! Beyond compare! trailing off Unparalleled rarity! …

BRAINSTORMER 2 (while organizing papers)

Looks like I am the only one who came prepared…

BRAINSTORMER 3(existentially, to BRAINSTORMER 1)

But what is originality, really? Can anything be unique in the infinite web of interconnected thought and time?

BRAINSTORMER 4 (dramatically, clutching a notebook to their chest)

Ah, the weight of expectation. To create is to suffer. To share is to bleed!

BRAINSTORMER 5 (unenthusiastically, sitting down with a heavy sigh)

Let’s get this over with.

(ACTORS 1-5 stop roaming and stand ready, but unsure of what to do. They exchange confused glances. ACTOR 1 trips over their own shoes. BRAINSTORMER 3 lines up color-coded highlighters.)

(END OF SCENE)