Est-ce qu’on ne pourrait pas s’aimer un peu?

Théâtre français de Toronto presents Est-ce qu’on ne pourrait pas s’aimer un peu? (Can’t we love each other a little?) a burlesque comedy, by Théâtre Loyal du Trac from Belgium. Through a series of vigourous tableaux and few words, the play casts a keen eye on our solitude and our often tortuous quest for love. On stage, one man and one woman. What could be simpler? They desperately want to meet, touch, love each other, but fate and adversity will have none of it.

In a style reminiscent of silent movies and theatre of the absurd, Est-ce qu’on ne pourrait pas s’aimer un peu? oscillates between comedy and dramatic poetry. The writers and actors, Sandrine Hooge and Éric de Staercke create characters who are both touching and hilarious, as their couples do and undo themselves, while Serge Bodart, punctuates the action on the keyboard. Jaco Van Dormael, director of the critically acclaimed films Toto le héros and Le Huitième jour, has enlarged features and choreographed movement in a show that is both musical and clownlike and provokes tears and laughter.