Robert Lepage’s creative alchemy

This feature by Sarah Greene appeared in the November 2011 issue of Q&Q.

Robert Lepage’s impressive artistic career spans theatre, film, and opera, and includes stints as designer and director for Cirque du Soleil and a Peter Gabriel world tour. The prolific Quebec actor, writer, and director has now added graphic novelist to his list of achievements. The Blue Dragon, first published in French earlier this year by Quebec’s Éditions Alto, appears this month from House of Anansi Press.

Adapted from the play of the same name, the book reunites co-writers Lepage and Marie Michaud, both of whom performed in the original 2008 production. The idea for the graphic novel, first suggested by Lepage’s sister and assistant Lynda Beaulieu, seemed natural given the influence on the play of Hergé’s The Blue Lotus, about TinTin’s adventures in Shanghai; the use of Chinese calligraphy, video, and comic panel-like squares in the set design; and the fact that the central character, Pierre Lamontagne, is a graphic artist and calligrapher.

“We thought a graphic novel would be more faithful, do more justice to the piece,” says Lepage. “We saw it as an opportunity to extend the themes of The Blue Dragon.”

A follow-up to the mid-1980s production The Dragons’ Trilogy, the story is set in modern-­day China and revolves around three characters in a love triangle: Lamontagne, a middle-aged Quebecois artist who lives in Shanghai and runs a contemporary art gallery; his ex-wife, a Montreal-based ­advertising executive hoping to adopt a baby; and Lamontagne’s younger Chinese lover. Just as there are three characters interacting in three languages (French, English, and Mandarin), there are three possible endings to the play and the book. Éditions Alto played on the number by printing a first run of 3,333 copies.

To adapt the highly visual play into print, Lepage and his production company, Ex Machina, imagined how they would present the story as a film. They auditioned a number of Quebecois artists for the project, eventually choosing Fred Jourdain, a young illustrator known for his portraits of rock stars and celebrities. Jourdain’s fluid, vivid illustrations of a rainy Shanghai are conveyed by mixing comic-book art with more painterly images. “He was very strong at expressing emotions on his characters’ faces,” says Lepage.

Anansi publisher Sarah MacLachlan fell in love with this combination of graphica and fine art. “I thought that was an extraordinary thing,” she says. The Blue Dragon is Anansi’s first graphic novel for the adult market (its children’s imprint, Groundwood Books, published the YA title Skim by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki in 2009). Canadian fiction editor Melanie Little met Éditions Alto president Antoine Tanguay last January, at the Canada Council for the Arts’ inaugural translation rights fair in Ottawa, and presented an offer within days.

The graphic novel has also had an effect on the theatrical version of The Blue Dragon, which will be remounted by Toronto’s Mirvish Productions in January. “Our work with Fred had a big influence on the piece,” Lepage says. “Both to make it stronger by simplifying some of the storylines, but also by complexifying some things that needed to be more [complex]. A lot of that came from some of the very rich, effervescent exchanges we had with Fred.”

Lepage says the adaptation was so successful it’s changed his approach to publishing: “Whatever play we come up with we should try to find a format – not necessarily another graphic novel – that is as faithful to our visual approach to the stage as it is [to] the written word.”

Éditions Alto and Ex Machina have continued their partnership, producing a limited-­run souvenir book for Lepage’s production of Stravinsky’s opera The Nightingale and Other Short Fables and collaborating on a nine-volume box set for his epic nine-hour opera Lipsynch.

“[Lepage] is a central cultural figure in Quebec right now,” says Tanguay. “Everything he does turns to gold.”

Illustrations by Fred Jourdain, courtesy of Anansi

Canadian literary event roundup: Jan. 20-26

It’s a busy week for literary events. Here’s a sample of what’s going on across the country:

• Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild presents “Writing North: Writing the Extraordinary,” University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (Jan. 20–21, free, www.skwriter.com)
• Poet Tanya Davis leads Stanzas in the Stacks: Poetry in the Library after Dark, Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library, Halifax (Jan. 20, 8 p.m., free)
• Dragnet literary magazine launches its fourth issue, Academy of the Impossible, Toronto (Jan. 21, 9 p.m., pay what you can)
• Third annual Sparks Literary Festival, Memorial University, St. John’s (Jan. 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free)
• William Gibson discusses his new book, Distrust that Particular Flavor, Bolen Books, Victoria (Jan. 23, 7 p.m., free)
• Robbie Burns marathon poetry reading with haggis and shortbread, Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, Vancouver (Jan. 25, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free)
• CBC Radio and McNally Robinson host 5 Readers, 5 Writers, 5 Minutes, Winnipeg (Jan. 25, 8 p.m., free)
• Brian Brennan, author of Writing My Way From Ireland to Canada, and Frances Hern, author of Yip Sang and the First Chinese Canadians, read from their work and discuss the Canadian immigrant experience, Central branch, Calgary Public Library (Jan. 26, 12 to 1 p.m., free. Call 403-260-2620 to register)
• Ottawa Independent Writers presents “How to Write a Winning ‘How-To’ Book” with business author Dr. Denis Cauvier, Library & Archives Canada (Jan. 26, 7 p.m., $10, www.oiw.ca)
• Reading and book signing with UPEI writer-in-residence Michael Crummey, Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown (Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., free)

Quillblog is looking for photos from literary events across Canada. Send your photos to scflinn@quillandquire.com.

Canadian literary event round-up: Dec. 9-15

Even the cold can’t stop the literary scene, with events in full swing across the country next week. Here’s a sample of what’s coming up:

• Derek Beaulieu, Kevin McPherson Eckhoff, and Jake Kennedy read from their new poetry collections, Pages on Kensington, Calgary (Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., free)
• Small Press of Toronto winter book fair, Hart House (Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free)
• Michael Smith signs Chef Michael Smith’s Kitchen, Bookmark, Charlottetown (Dec. 10, 2 p.m., free)
• Douglas Gibson discusses Stories About Storytellers, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, Ontario (Dec. 10, 7 p.m., $10)
• National Ballet of Canada dancer Sonia Rodriguez signs T is for Tutu: A Ballet Alphabet, Indigo Manulife Centre, Toronto (Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m., free)
• The Field Stone Poets read from Whistle for Jellyfish and David Groulx launches Rising with a Distant Dawn, Collected Works, Ottawa (Dec. 11, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., free)
• Actor and musician Jody Richardson performs dramatic reading of Bella’s Tree, a picture book by Janet Russell, The Rooms, St. John’s (Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m., $5)
• Michael Morpurgo reads from War Horse with music by John Tams, Panasonic Theatre, Toronto (Dec. 12, 7 p.m., $15)
• Esi Edugyan and Jen Sookfong Lee read from Half-Blood Blues and The Better Mother, respectively, UBC Bookstore at Robson Square, Vancouver (Dec. 15, 7 p.m., free)

Canadian literary event round-up: Nov. 4-10

Here are just a few of the literary events happening across the country in the next week:

• BookFest Windsor holds readings, discussions, and workshops, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario (Nov. 4–5, tickets at bookfestwindsor.com)
• Toronto Public Library hosts Human Library, various branches (Nov. 5, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., free)
• Anne Emery launches Death at Christy Burke’s, Durty Nelly’s, Halifax (Nov. 5, 3 p.m., free)
• Andrew Nikiforuk signs Empire of the Beetle as part of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, Willock & Sax Gallery, Banff (Nov. 5, 6 p.m., free)
• David Sedaris reads from his collected works, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (Nov. 5, 8 p.m., from $45)
• Don Ferguson, Georges Laraque, Will Ferguson, and David Berlin discuss their writing at Books and Breakfast, Paragraphe Bookstore, Montreal (Nov. 6, 10 a.m., $32)
• Wade Davis discusses Into the Silence, Metro Toronto Reference Library (Nov. 7, 7 p.m., free)
• Scotiabank Giller Light Bash, various locations across Canada (Nov. 8, tickets at gillerlightbash.ca)
• Allan Levine launches King, Laurier House, Ottawa (Nov. 9, 6 p.m., free)
• Barbara DeLory launches Three Centuries of Public Art, Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax (Nov. 9, 7 p.m., free)

Weekend reading list: the top stories from around our offices

Every weekend Q&Q rounds up the highlights from other websites in the St. Joseph Media family. This week’s top stories include Canadian Family’s book picks, Toronto’s best tacos, and fashion-inspired Halloween costumes.

Books we want to read right now [Canadian Family]

Toronto’s eight best tacos, from the traditional to the tricked-out [Toronto Life]

Fashion’ween [Fashion Magazine]

An unorthodox message: Up close and political with Imam Zijad Delic [Ottawa Magazine]

EnRoute names Canada’s 10 best new restaurants [Where Canada]

Five tasty movie-night snacks [20 Minute Supper Club]

The hottest new styles from Bridal Fashion Week [Wedding Bells]

One year of street art dedicated to mayor Ford [Torontoist]

Canadian literary event round-up: Oct. 21-27

The literary scene is lively this week with many festivals underway. Here’s a sample of what’s happening across the country:

• LitFest non-fiction festival, various locations, Edmonton (until Oct. 23, tickets at litfestalberta.org)
• Vancouver International Writers Festival, various locations, Granville Island (until Oct. 23, tickets at writersfest.bc.ca)
• Ottawa International Writers’ Festival, various locations, Ottawa (until Oct. 25, tickets at writersfestival.org)
• International Festival of Authors, various locations, Ontario (until Oct. 30, tickets at readings.org)
• Gaspereau Press’s 12^th annual Wayzgoose and open house, Kentville, Nova Scotia (Oct. 22, all day, free)
• Roald Dahl Day with screening of James and the Giant Peach plus contests, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto (Oct. 23, 11 a.m., $10)
• Canzine, 918 Bathurst Centre, Toronto (Oct. 23, 1 p.m., $5)
• Psychologist Shelagh Robinson demos Mirror Read Books, Babar Books, Pointe-Claire, Quebec (Oct. 24, 2 p.m., free)
• François Cusset reads from The Inverted Gaze, Type Books, Toronto (Oct. 26, 7 p.m., free)
• Scrivener Creative Review launches its latest issue with guest reading by Jason Price Everett, Papeterie Nota Bene, Montreal (Oct. 27, 4:30 p.m., $5 for entry, a copy, and a cupcake)

Weekend reading list: top stories from around our offices

Every weekend Q&Q rounds up the highlights from other websites in the St. Joseph Media family. This week’s top stories include photos from the Signal imprint launch and street fashion from New York, Milan, and Paris.

McClelland & Stewart launches its non-fiction imprint, Signal [Toronto Life]

100 photos of fashion trends worn on the streets of New York, Milan, and Paris [Fashion Magazine]

No-bake Halloween treat: Spiderweb Pretzel Snacks [Canadian Family]

Road trip: Millers’ Farm in Manotick for pick-your-own pumpkins [Ottawa Magazine]

Staff picks: Our 10 favourite spots for an autumn stroll [Where]

Dinnertime shortcut: Five recipes using ketchup [20 Minute Supper Club]

Five cake trends that will carry on to 2012 [Wedding Bells]

Ten questions with: Silver Elvis [Torontoist]

Ottawa bibliophile helps tourists book their travel

Nigel Beale is an Ottawa resident, broadcaster, and inveterate book lover. He is also the owner and publisher of a new website, Literary Tourist, intended to assist bibliophilic travellers wishing to locate and explore interesting literary sites around the world. Literary Tourist’s searchable database lists used and new bookstores, independent bookstores, as well as literary landmarks, writers’ festivals, and rare libraries.

According to the site, the database “represents one of the world’s most comprehensive continuously updated directories of used bookstores and literary destinations” and “contains valuable, detailed information and reviews designed to help traveling bibliophiles determine how best to spend their time.”

From the Ottawa Citizen:

The idea, says Beale, was to create a travel resource for people who love books.

He says he’s concerned about used bookstores closing down, and hopes that by stimulating tourism, he can keep some stores in business.

Beale started his venture by buying Book Hunter Press, a small publishing firm that put out a guide to used bookstores in North America.

According to the Citizen, the website Biblio.com has signed on as a partner “to help promote independent bookstores.”

Anna Porter, Tim Cook among Shaughnessy Cohen nominees

The Writers’ Trust of Canada has announced the finalists for the $25,000 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, awarded annually to a non-fiction book that has the “potential to shape or influence Canadian political life.” This year’s nominees, as chosen by journalists L. Ian MacDonald, Rosemary Speirs, and Paul Wells, are as follows:

• Tim Cook for The Madman and the Butcher: The Sensational Wars of Sam Hughes and General Arthur Currie (Allen Lane Canada)
• Shelagh D. Grant for Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America (Douglas & McIntyre)
• Lawrence Martin for Harperland: The Politics of Control (Viking Canada)
• Anna Porter for The Ghosts of Europe: Journeys Through Central Europe’s Troubled Past and Uncertain Future (Douglas & McIntyre)
• Doug Saunders for Arrival City: The Final Migration and Our Next World (Knopf Canada)

The winner will be announced on Feb. 16 at the Politics and the Pen Gala in Ottawa.

Douglas Coupland wins monumental commission

Douglas Coupland is having a banner year. Not only did he use the occasion of this year’s Massey Lectures to deliver the manuscript of a new novel, he has also designed a clothing line for Roots. Now, the novelist-cum-artist (or is it artist-cum-novelist?) has won a national design competition for a monument honouring Canada’s fallen firefighters.

Coupland submitted the winning concept, which will be erected in Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats neighbourhood, with Toronto architect Mary Tremain. According to the CBC, it will feature “a giant fire hall pole that acts as a lightning rod, protecting a tree and monument underneath, with a bronze statue of a firefighter pointing to the names on the monument.” From the official press release:

“I wanted the monument to convey deep emotion and simple dignity,” said artist Douglas Coupland. “I want people to eat their lunch there, read, play with their kids — and each time they do so, a small part of themselves will reflect on firefighters and what they do every day when they go to work.”