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Three languages in search of an audience

Grade Six students mount mime production with multilingual soundtrack

JANE GEORGE

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The characters of Issaruk and Qullik in their costumes for this Monday's performance of Aurore in Kuujjuaq. In pink, Mary Saunders plays Qullik; in blue, Kris Tukkiapik plays Issaruk. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHEL LEMOINE)

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Kuujjuamiut are invited to join in a unique theatrical adventure Monday evening at the Kaitittavik Town Hall theatre: a trilingual play - the creation of Jaanimmarik School's Grade Six students.

The 15 students in Michel Lemoyne's French-language class started working on this play, entitled "Aurore" in French ("Aurora" in English and "Aqsarniit" in Inuttitut) earlier this year, following the success of a smaller work they presented at the school's annual Christmas concert.

The French version of Aurore, says Lemoine, was developed by his students, after he suggested a few possible concepts to them. The final text was then translated into English and Inuttitut by Lemoine's fellow teachers, Loretta Macpherson and Mary-Joan Kauki.

Here's a brief idea of the plot: two friends, Issaruk and Qullik, have to travel around the world to find eight magic stones that can save Aurora, the goddess of the northern lights and creator of the world.

"This story begins a long long time ago, when everything was dark... without life... without dreams. Then one day, or one night, a shooting green star in the sky took a turn that would change the direction of our lives... this star named Aurora, spun so fast that a part of her became a planet... creating life! This blue planet lived many years with joy, tears and catastrophes... but all that was nothing compared to what was about to happen..." reads the text.

The play is a work of "black light" theatre - that is, special lighting reveals only colours of the costumes worn by performers and of the backdrops. This results in eerie effects on the stage, which is otherwise bathed in dark.

The play is performed in mime to a trilingual recorded sound track.

"For example, it will say 'so-and-so opens the door' in each language, but, of course, they won't be opening the door three times!" said Lemoine.

Not only is Aurore trilingual, said Lemoine, but it's also multi-disciplinary and involved collaborators in Montreal.

The accompanying music was selected by the students and then mixed with the trilingual narration by a friend of Lemoine's in Montreal, François Boyer. The eye-catching poster promoting the play was also designed by Marie-Noelle Rosso, a Montreal-based graphic artist.

The students in Lemoine's class used their math skills to look at expenses and calculate potential revenues, while students from other classes, particularly from the school's Independent Paths of Learning program, pitched in.

"It was a lot of work," admitted Lemoine.

Not just for him, but also for the students who have been rehearsing the play every day in preparation for Monday's premiere at 7 p.m.

Admission to Aurore is $5 at the door.

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