Published October 6, 2024

Djeneba Dosso

LJI Reporter

After making Montreal and Quebec City crowds laugh out loud, Les Producteurs made a pit stop in Trois-Rivières before commencing their six-day residency at Gatineau’s Casino Lac-Leamy Theatre. From Thursday September 26 to 28 and then again the following weekend from October 3 to 5, Serge Postigo and his cast presented this stage adaptation of Mel Brooks’ masterpiece, the most awarded show in Broadway history with 12 Tony Awards. 

The Gatineau Bulletin caught up with Marianne Orlowski, who plays Ulla Inga Hansen, ahead of their second opening show on September 27.  

Tell me a bit about your artistic background, and then how you came to be part of Les Producteurs.

I’ve been an actress, singer and dancer in Paris for some time now. I did a few musical comedy shows here and there, including Les Producteurs. We played for two years and when Gestev producers came to see the show in Paris, they wanted to put on this show in Quebec — to redo the translation and adaptation by Serge Postigo, therefore doing a completely Quebec version of the show. Being in Paris throughout this show, I wanted to audition for the role of Ulla that I played here. Serge told me ‘Ok, no problem,’ and that’s it: I got my ticket, and I went on the adventure. 

This role meant packing up your bags and settling in Quebec for close to a year, what has this experience been like for you?

It’s been almost a year now. I had never set foot in Quebec, and being here feels like I am living a bit of a dream. Already, since the auditions, I was so happy to come here but to be able to discover beautiful regions did it for me. It has been pure happiness. 

How would you describe Les Producteurs to someone who has never seen the original or adaptation of the show?

The Producteurs is a musical in the purest tradition of the Golden Age, New York musicals; that’s why I really like it. The script is just incredible. It is Mel Brooks who is the author and it’s not for nothing that it won the Oscar for the best screenplay. The show is very, very funny. Personally, I was a little bit afraid of the reception by the public because it’s actually a very punchy [type of] humour, you really have to listen to that in the fifth degree, but that’s the wonderful thing. 

Tell me about the character you play in the show. Who is Ulla Inga Hansen?

Ulla, who is a young Swedish woman full of ambition in life, dreams of becoming a star on Broadway and will do everything to become one. She is a woman who is aware of her assets and the world in which she evolves. She is still quite masculine for the time; we must not forget that this is a story that dates back to the 1960s. 

How did you prepare ahead of the Producteurs tour across Quebec?

There are solid singing and dancing skills [required]. We were coached by the band Quartz, who are acapella singers. I was also coached in technical and vocal interpretation, same for dance. Steve Bolton choreographed this show, and I worked a lot with him. And so, I arrived, loaded with all that [training for] a number that is quite physical and intense for me, but which I am passionate about and for which I am very happy to, well, to put on the dress every night.

Tell me about the opening night in Gatineau.

We played our first in Gatineau last night [September 26] at the Casino and it was really, really enjoyable to hear real laughs from an entire audience who were won over by the humour of Mel Brooks like that. I [liked] the staging, which is really fantastic here, and this production and all the artists who are on set. We really had a lot of fun and I think the audience felt that.  I had never been to Gatineau, so for me, it’s perpetual discovery and it’s special, too, because it’s the end of our tour; it’s the last city, so I think we may each have a bit of a twinge of heart, nostalgia as well. 

You’ve just spent a year of your life putting on this incredible show alongside castmates who have become family. What are you feeling ahead of your last show in Quebec, and what’s next for Marianne?

Nostalgia, in a way. It was a completely crazy year for me to play this show here – this role – Quebec. We are a very united gang, a very close-knit group. I’ve discovered so much here and so many people; I love the Quebecois. So, for that, I have a slight urge to not go home, not that I disown France; I am just very attached [to Quebec], but lo and behold, the future is more in France for the moment. If I am considered to come back here for work in the future, it would be with pleasure. 

Photo caption:

Photo #1: After making rounds across stages in Quebec, Les Producteurs made their last stop at Gatineau’s Casino Lac-Leamy Theatre during a six-show residency over the course of two weekends. (DD) Photo: Gestev. 

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