La Comédie-Française Returns to Montréal - Lucrèce Borgia presented at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde as

MONTRÉAL, July 24, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - After a nine-year absence, La Comédie-Française is coming back to Canada on July 25 to present, for the first time in North America, Victor Hugo's drama Lucrèce Borgia (in French only). The production, which was widely acclaimed in Europe, will be performed 10 times at the TNM between July 25 and August 4, 2017. The performances are part of the official lineup of À nous la scène, the theatre component of Montréal's 375th anniversary celebrations.

A strong cast has been assembled for this production: Elsa Lepoivre will take on the role of hot-blooded Lucrezia Borgia, while Éric Ruf, who does double duty as the show's set designer, will play the role of Don Alfonso d'Este. Both have already worked more than once with Director Denis Podalydès, who received the Molière award in 2006 for his directing of Cyrano de Bergerac at La Comédie-Française before tackling Lucrèce Borgia, the fourth production he has directed at the theatre.

La Comédie-Française has maintained strong ties with Canada. Since 1955, it has presented some 30 productions in Montréal, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg, for a total of nearly 130 performances. On this, the troupe's ninth visit to Montréal, its presentation of Lucrèce Borgia will be an opportunity to admire the words of Victor Hugo and provide a powerful symbol of the cultural exchanges between France and Canada. During its last visit to the city, back in 2008, the troupe presented Le Malade imaginaire by Molière, also at the TNM.

About Lucrèce Borgia
Ferrara is ruled by the poisonous Lucrezia Borgia, a powerful woman with blood-stained hands. Also guilty of incest, she has added fratricide to the list of Borgia crimes. Gennaro, the offspring of her union with her brother, does not know who his real parents are. At a ball in Venice he courts a beautiful masked woman, until he discovers in horror the face of Lucrezia, trembling with love for the son whom she has approached in secret, her identity hidden by her carnival disguise. Infuriated by Gennaro's friends, who have committed the affront of unmasking her, and suspected of adultery by her husband Don Alfonso, Lucrezia unleashes a terrible vengeance inescapably linked to the fate of her son.

About the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary
The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to organize the celebrations and socioeconomic contributions that will mark Montréal's 375th anniversary in 2017. With a focus on promoting Montréal expertise, it acts as a catalyst for local forces in carrying out its mandate: to mobilize the community, implement a funding strategy, rigorously manage public funds, develop quality programming and ensure the visibility of the celebrations.

The Society benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal, the Québec government, the Canada government and private funding from 12 Great Montrealers. For more information, see http://www.375mtl.com

You can find all our press releases and additional pictures and videos in our virtual press room.

To learn more about the contribution of the Québec government to Montréal's 375th Anniversary celebrations, click here.

For further information: Society of the 375th: Isabelle Pelletier, Chief Media Relations, 514-238-4178, ipelletier@375mtl.com; Society of the 375th: Nathalie Roy, Media Relations, 514-889-3622, nroy@375mtl.com

La Comédie-Française Returns to Montréal - Lucrèce Borgia presented at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde as part of the official program of events for Montréal's 375th anniversary

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