Centaur Theatre Company Presents: Strawberries in January – A Musical Fantasy
By Michael Martini
January 16, 2024
Strawberries in January? Well, they’re better when they’re out of season, aren’t they?
It’s this ironic idea that sets the stage for the many ironies of missed connections and love triangles in Strawberries in January – A Musical Fantasy, a classic Montréal romcom hitting the Centaur aptly this January. Is it true that we finally find love when we stop looking? Does Cupid strike us hardest just when we think he’s run out of arrows?
The poster of Centaur Theatre’s production Strawberries in January
Strawberries in January is the English-language adaptation of a modern Montréal classic, Evelyne de la Chenelière’s romantic comedy Des fraises en janvier, which has delighted audiences in various reprises since its debut in 1999. Evelyne de la Chenelière is one of Québec’s most renowned modern playwrights, active since the late 90s. She is a Governor General’s Award laureate who’s especially known for her play Bashir Lazhar which was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film. Des fraises en janvier remains her most frequently revived work. La Presse has likened it to “light therapy in the heart of winter.”
Well, good timing. This January, the Centaur proudly debuts an official English-language musical theatre adaptation. The Centaur’s new version is a full-length romantic fantasy complete with live music— piano, guitar, strings, and, of course, the velvety voices of a talented cast. Some songs are adapted and tweaked from a 2016 Francophone musical version, while other songs are completely original. Those under the spell of holiday movies to sip hot chocolate to shouldn’t think twice about a night out at the theatre to catch this January gem.
The cast and musicians of Strawberries in January.
François, a lovesick singleton and avid writer, dreams up a plot involving his own “one who got away,” as he runs his Montréal café. His daydreams plunge us into a musical fantasy where we begin to wonder which characters are real, and which are simply dreamt up by François, what is really happening in François's life, and what is only in the heads of the characters. Anyone who’s been in love knows that imagination and reality can begin to crossfade, and this dreamy dizziness is exactly what Strawberries in January aims to capture.
Between bustling Montréal cafés and cosy chalets in the Eastern Townships, we find ourselves in a pre-Instagram era where hopeless romantics actually have to push themselves to stoke the flames of a nearly missed connection rather than coast in story-liking situationships. As the characters fight for love in this throwback to the golden age of rom-coms, we have to pinch ourselves and ask: is this only François’s fantasy? And does living in fantasy come at a cost? What do you lose out on when you don’t have the strength to commit to reality, but instead live in riskless fantasies? Just as musical theatre sweeps us into the escapism of song and dance, what fantasies do we foster to keep reality at bay? Well, perhaps the fantasy, the daydreams, and the music add to reality rather than distract us. Maybe fantasy isn’t just escape, but a new way of re-entering.
The cast and musicians of Strawberries in January.
Rather than large-scale, chorus-kicking Broadway numbers, the music in this Centaur production is intimate, poetic, and even quirky at times, with a bluegrass feel, allowing the four actors behind its lovelorn characters to shine and tell their story. Composing original music and lyrics to embellish Strawberries in January has been no minor undertaking, involving a large and dynamic team that’s happy to report the hard work has paid off. A string band including but not limited to cello, bass, ukulele, guitar, and mandolin gives an earthy feel. The music accompanies the actors onstage as they sing, treating the audience to cosy, romantic melodies as all four characters catch the love bug. The team behind the original music, lyrics, and arrangements involves Ludovic Bonnier, Eva Foote, Audrey Thériault, and Habib Zekri, including arrangements from Nick Carpenter and translations from Alexis Diamond. The play features Eloi ArchamBaudoin, Ryan Bommarito, Métushalème Dary, and Madeleine Scovil, and is directed by Frédéric Bélanger, a champion of the play who has been instrumental in transposing this labour of love from the Francophone milieu to the Centaur stage.
The cast and musicians of Strawberries in January.
If you’re in the mood for a holiday romcom, why not take a break from Hallmark and support local theatre? Plus, a tasty hot chocolate and whimsical stroll through Old Montréal's winter wonderland wouldn't be a bad idea before or after the show. A cosy comedy, Strawberries in January promises trysts, tangles, and—above all—talent.
You can catch Strawberries in January – A Musical Fantasy from January 21 to February 9, a run that includes matinées, surtitled shows, and discounted preview performances (25% off!). Regular tickets range from $22-$68. The play is family friendly but, of course—as any good romcom must—it contains its sprinkles of spice.
Strawberries in January - A Musical Fantasy
by Centaur Theatre
January 21 - February 9, 2025
at the Centaur Theatre