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Pleiades Theatre, in association with the Segal Centre for Performing Arts presents the unforgettable VIOLA LÉGER in La SAGOUINE

Pleiades Theatre is proud to present the beloved Canadian classic, La Sagouine by the celebrated Acadian writer Antonine Maillet. Starring the legendary Viola Léger this one-woman show has not been seen in English in Toronto since 1979. La Sagouine will be presented in English from May 14 to May 29 and in French from May 31 to June 5 at the Berkeley Street Theatre (Downstairs).

John Van Burek directs this new production, with sets by Yannik Larivée, lighting by Robert Thomson and costumes by François Barbeau. Following the Toronto run, Mme. Léger will return to New Brunswick where she performs every summer to some 85,000 people at “Le Pays de la Sagouine,” and where she will begin doing English-language performances in addition to the French. In March, 2011, the show will go to the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal.

La Sagouine consists of five wonderful stories as told by the title character, a salty old scrubwoman, known only by her derogatory nickname. In her long, colourful life of toil, hardship and joy, la Sagouine has seen it all. Her stories range from metaphysical to bitterly sardonic to riotously funny. From her perch at the very bottom of the social ladder, she can see through the pretensions, hypocrisies and contradictions of her “betters.” All together, her stories paint the picture of a life of great resilience, endurance and hope, a true portrait of the Acadian people. For this production, Mme. Léger will be performing one of the stories in English for the first time.

Time magazine called La Sagouine “a masterpiece” and Viola Léger has been lauded for her spell-binding performances all across Canada, in the U.S. and Europe.

Pleiades Theatre’s artistic Director John Van Burek is thrilled to be working with one of Canada’s most iconic stars and sees this production as “an unforgettable gift to Toronto audiences,” adding that, “Here we have Viola Léger, one of Canada’s most beloved actors, at eighty years of age, performing one of our country’s most adored pieces of theatre, and she will perform La Sagouine in both of Canada’s official languages! Such an opportunity is not likely to come our way again anytime soon!”

Don’t miss the grande dame of Canadian theatre in one of our country’s most celebrated works for the stage.

LA SAGOUINE by Antonine Maillet
May 14 to June 5, 2010
Starring Viola Léger
Directed by John Van Burek, Sets by Yannik Larivé, Lighting by Robert Thompson, Costumes by François Barbeau
Berkeley St. Theatre (Downstairs), 26 Berkeley St., Toronto
Performances in English: Previews: May 14, 15 @ 8pm | Student Matinée: May 17 @ 12:30pm |  Senior Matinée: May 24 @ 2:00pm
Opening: Tuesday, May 18 @ 8pm
Regular Performances in English: May 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 @ 8pm
Regular Performances en français: May 31, June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 @ 8pm
Tickets: $12 to $37 | Group discounts available
Box Office: (416) 368-3110 or visit www.canstage.com/tickets
www.pleiadestheatre.org