'Une vie pour deux' hits TNO's stage

A novel by renowned author Marie Cardinal is adapted for theatre by Evelyne De la Chenelière.

“Une vie pour deux,” being staged this month by TNO, is directed by none other than Alice Ronfard, daughter of Marie Cardinal and Jean-Pierre Ronfard.

It is all the more troubling when you learn that the play is based on real events, a press release said.

“Of course, when I think about it, it’s my mom and dad that I am portraying on stage,” said Ronfard. “Moreover, it’s based on a true story that happened to them when vacationing in Ireland.”

Jean-François Casabonne (who peculiarly resembles Jean-Pierre Ronfard) and Violette Chauveau (nominee for Outstanding Female Performance of the Year 2012 – Montreal awarded by l’AQCT for her role in this play) embody the characters of Jean and Simone.

The actors are alive with truth and humanity. Jean and Simone are like so many couples who have stumbled and faltered through years of everyday life, drained by its joys and sorrows, its hopes and disappointments.

After 20 years of vie à deux, Jean and Simone hope to revive their sagging relationship by taking a vacation in Ireland. During a walk on the beach, Jean finds the body of a drowned young woman.

This morbid encounter becomes the couple’s shared obsession. Her presence becomes a part of them, alive in their fears, their bitterness, their jealousy, and ultimately, their redemption.

Performances take place Feb. 26-27 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. English subtitles are available Feb. 28.

Tickets cost between $5 and $32, and are available at www.leTNO.ca/billetterie.