The Art of French Cooking

By Madeleine Blais-Dahlem

Directed by Anita Smith

May 4th – 12th, 2024

Photography credit Nicole Stevenson Photography

After a long slow simmer, this new Saskatchewan play is served hot, saucy, and oozing with wit.

The girls have had it. Blanche’s breasts have been pumped, prodded, and stuffed til they can’t take it anymore. In an act of radical deconstruction, Boobar and Boobel have bailed, and Blanche is on a dreamscape quest to get the girls back in place, because, without them, “When I look in the mirror, what will look back?” But the girls have other ideas, and lead our heroine on a merry chase through a world of flesh – always hoping Blanche may decide that she is more than the sum of her parts.

A feminist masterclass of self-discovery, and an unbound absurdist comedy a quarter century in the making, The Art of French Cooking will be many things… but your average night at the theatre is NOT one of them.

Three young women smile and laugh as they walk near a beach holding ice cream cones

Photography credit Nicole Stevenson

CAST
Boobel – Sarah Bergbusch* (she/her)
Richard/Bull/Gustave/Dr.Heinrich – Tim Bratton* (he/him)
Boobel Understudy – Danova Dickson
Cloris/Cardinal La Foie/La Poularde – Marley Duckett* (she/they)
Boobar – Bobbi Jones* (they/she)
Blanche – Elizabeth Nepjuk* (they/she)

CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Madeleine Blais-Dahlem (she/her)
Director – Anita Smith* (she/her)

Lighting Design – Katie Blackburn-Dust (she/they)
Props Design – Morgan Carter (she/her)
Dialect Coach – Élisabeth Foucault (she/her/elle)
Set & Projections Design – Cameron Fraser (he/him)
Stage Manager – Lauren Griffin (she/her)
Co-Costume Design – Emma Gustafson (she/her)
Co-Costume Design – Beverley Kobelsky (she/her)
Audio Design – Sam Kruger (he/him)
Choreographer – Tatum Wildeman (she/her)

Set Construction Consultant – Shaun Bzdel (he/him)
Technical Consultant – Kody Manson (he/him)
Head of Scenic Paint – Carla Orosz (she/her)
Production Assistants (scenic paint) – Hannah Fehr, Randy Huang
Technicians – Cody Brayshaw (he/him), Ian Kimpton (he/him)
Production Assistants (set) – Cody Brayshaw (he/him), Catherine Hui (she/her), Stewart Millie, Gage Ritchie-Nadeau

Media Consultant – Britainy Zapshalla (she/her)

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy.