Mona’s Reviews - FringeMTL 2026
Raison et sentiments
It’s hard not to look forward to a piece positioned as a reimagining of a Jane Austin classic in the greatest city in the world. The anticipation then only grows when you walk into a well air conditioned Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal following a humid Bixi ride, and maybe even help yourself to a 2-for-1 St-Ambroise cider.
With Raison et sentiments, Les Exclamateurs drop us into 1950s New York City to reintroduce us to the Dashwood sisters, known to some as Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet, and to most as the protagonists of the widely popular novel Sense and Sensibility. Interestingly enough, this American-set version is presented entirely in French; with a creative team mainly made up of French artists, the translation work added a complicated layer of interpretation for a Québécois audience. Admittedly, the occasional French expression was difficult to decipher in addition to following the storyline which could’ve used a bit more exposition off the top, especially considering the not-so-accurate range of ages in the cast. Still, you catch up quickly to the established romances and characters, or at least put faces to the names you likely already know from assigned school or book club readings.
The show is designed to a very basic budget in the spirit of Fringe and independent theatre. Aside from a cutout of the New York skyline, the stage is dressed with apple boxes very cleverly decorated with light-up stickers creating imagery of neighbouring apartment buildings. Otherwise, locations are hinted at through transitions like wobbling bystanders on a moving subway car. Lastly, costumes were simple, but consistent, though not completely era appropriate.
The shining mark of this production truly lives in the cast, and the passion they brought to each of their roles. With any barebones play, and frankly with nowhere else to look, the audience heavily relies on the performances, and the director’s choices. Throughout the 90 minute run, it was abundantly clear that every actor had a hand in crafting their characters, and in return, that the characters were taken apart and rebuilt to complement the actors’ strengths.
One question still lingers: why New York? I found the DNA of the city to be lacking in this interpretation which, considering the translation, could’ve taken some liberties to make the choice more evident. Now, was I occasionally thrown off by the mix of French and Québécois accents? Sure. Was I charmed by the cast’s sense of play? Absolutely! Ultimately, Raison et sentiments was undoubtedly successful in honouring the love story at the heart of Sense and Sensibility: that of the Dashwood sisterhood.
