Le Pays de la Sagouine welcomes a new artistic director, Luc LeBlanc. Well known as the actor who has embodied the role of Citrouille for a number of years, Mr. LeBlanc is delighted to be able to contribute in a new way to the world of l’Île-aux-Puces: “Le Pays de la Sagouine is an ongoing love story for me… a place for the fantastic, an outstanding team, and a sincere and loyal audience. It just wasn’t possible to say no to this new adventure as artistic director… As Citrouille says this year, ‘the sky’s the limit!’”

The Acadian Kitchen Party Experience
Regular presentations in English will be held in good Acadian kitchen party style every day at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm (hours may vary). Learn about Acadian culture through its history, past and present! With the help of our fiddler, we’ll even show you how to play the spoons in our engaging kitchen parties! For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll get to taste one of our famous Acadian desserts! The perfect occasion to discover the Acadian joie de vivre!

Four decades that have marked the Acadian imagination
The most famous character of Acadian popular culture first appeared 40 years ago. Played by Viola Léger and brought to life by the writer Antonine Maillet, La Sagouine is celebrating her 40^th anniversary this year. On July 24^th, we’re celebrating in style! An evening paying tribute to La Sagouine will be held in “le pays” that bears her name; as part of the tribute, a wine and cheese will take place at l’Ordre du Bon Temps Restaurant starting at 7 pm. Tickets cost $25.

From July 14^th, the new dinner theatre La Sagouine et le temps (La Sagouine 40 ans plus tard / La Sagouine 40 Years Later) with Viola Léger (text by Antonine Maillet) will begin its run (in French only). The play also features Denise Bouchard in the role of Mariaagélas and Luc LeBlanc in the role of Citrouille. It will be presented Thursdays and Fridays up to August 19^th at l’Ordre du Bon Temps. Tickets cost $53.

La Sagouine (in English)
All summer long, the public can enjoy evenings at Le Pays de la Sagouine with a delicious meal and a play during its famous dinner theatre. Not to be missed, La Sagouine (in English), is back. After 40 years on the stage, the character is certainly the most famous and enduring Acadian theatre phenomenon. The Acadian cleaning woman is sure to make the public laugh; she takes the stage on Sundays starting July 10^th through August 28^th (with the exception of Sunday, July 24^th). Other dinner theatres on the 2011 menu include: Un drôle de mariage (in French only) on Wednesdays and Saturdays from July 13^th to the 30^th and La Foire aux puces (in French only) on Wednesdays and Saturdays from August 3^rd to the 27^th. Dinner theatres are presented at l’Ordre du Bon Temps Restaurant (all tickets are $53). The shows start at 7 pm with the doors opening at 6:30 pm.

Something New at Le Pays!
This year, the family of l’Île-aux-Puces welcomes new actors and characters who know how to entertain with their colourful stories. Audience members are invited to meet the “gossipeuses” (in other words, people who like to gossip) and storytellers, who can help members better understand the wonderful world of Antonine Maillet. A new house band, Vieux Temps, will take the stage and make you swing to the Acadian rhythms of the good old times. Every day, audience members can tap their feet to the rhythms of Vieux Temps or of the group Les Cotchineux. Something else not to be missed: the gift shop of Le Pays has a new look, the perfect opportunity to find Acadian souvenirs to suit all tastes.

A New Play: C’t’un texte du Pays !,
Le Pays de la Sagouine is making room for new Acadian playwrights. C’t’un texte du Pays !, a play by Agathe Marie and Jenny Ferguson, will be presented at Le Hangar on Tuesdays from July 19^th to August 16^th at 8 pm. On stage: the characters of Florence and Marguerite à Pote played by the two playwrights. Tickets cost $15.

For the Kids!
Little kids can also join in the festivities at Le Pays de la Sagouine. On Saturday, July 9^th, they can sing with Roland and Monsieur Crapaud. Children and their parents are expected at l’Ordre du Bon Temps from 11 am. Tickets are already on sale for $10. On August 20^th, a very special presentation: the kids’ play Peigne… était une fois (Peigne… once upon a time). In the program: laughs, songs, and discoveries. The text and production are by Robert Gauvin and André Roy, with original music by Pierre-Guy Blanchard. Presented in collaboration with the Productions l’Entrepôt, the play will be shown exclusively at Le Pays de la Sagouine. Tickets are also on sale for $10.

Music at Le Pays!
On July 8^th, make room for musical evenings! On Fridays from July 8^th to the 29^th, as well as from August 5^th to the 26^th, Frolic Alpine will take over l’Île-aux-Puces starting at 9 pm (for those who are 19 years old and older). Appearing on stage are Jérémie Goguen, Hert LeBlanc, Louis Cormier, Paul Hébert, Maurice Belliveau, Rhéal LeBlanc, Freddy & Stéphane Daigle, and Réveil. Tickets are on sale only at the door for $8 for members and $10 for others. Every Friday from July 8^th to August 26^th, don’t miss evenings with local artists on La terrasse of l’Ordre du Bon Temps Restaurant from 5 pm to 8 pm. An opportunity to see and hear: Scott & Gerald, Daniel Goguen, Marc Babin, Serge LeBlanc, Richard Bourque, Mario Doiron, and Raymond Savoie. Admission is free!

Special Events in 2011
On Sunday, July 3^rd, the public is invited to an open house day, in collaboration with the Vestiaire Saint-Jean Baptiste (food bank) in Bouctouche. Admission is free. We encourage the public to make a donation or bring non-perishable food items. On August 15^th, Le Pays de la Sagouine is the place to be to celebrate Acadians’ National Holiday! Activities are planned for the entire day, including a Tintamarre at 3 pm and music in the evening with such big names in Acadian music as country star George Belliveau and the party band Tradition!

Acadian Culinary Delights
People can treat themselves to an Acadian buffet with savoury traditional meals at l’Ordre du Bon Temps Restaurant, Wednesdays to Saturdays, from July 13^th to August 20^th, between 11 am and 2 pm ($12.95). Sundays are the perfect occasion to have a meal with family and friends, and try the Restaurant’s famous Acadian brunch ($14.95) available from June 26^th to September 4^th, between 10 am and 2 pm. For something to eat between two presentations on l’Île-aux-Puces, make your way to the Paneterie, open every day from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

Le Pays de la Sagouine is located at 57 Acadie Street in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. It’s open to the public from June 26 to September 4, 2011, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Le Pays is open from September 5^th to the 11^th for guided tours of l’Île-aux-Puces only, at 11 am and 1:30 pm. For more information on the various activities and how to purchase tickets, visit www.sagouine.com or call 1-800-561-9188.

La Sagouine (Photo by: Dolores Breau)

La Sagouine, a play featuring one of Acadia’s most famous characters, was recently featured at Toronto’s Pleaides Theatre and enjoyed great success. Penned by Antonine Maillet, La Sagouine is portrayed by Viola Léger who embodies completely this 72 year old shrewd Acadian washerwoman. She presented a series of monologues in front of a Toronto audience asking for more. Theatre critics were full of praise and described La Sagouine as a “national treasure”. The play was presented in English for two weeks at the end of May and in French from May 31^st to June 5^th. The last time La Sagouine was played in Toronto was in 1979.

Many cultural critics gave a perfect score to Viola Léger in the role that has made her a well-known figure on the Canadian theatre scene. Praises were also given to the team surrounding Léger: Director John Van Bureck, set designer Yannick Larrivée, and lighting director Robert Thompson.

“La Sagouine is a cultural and artistic treasure,” simply states The Globe and Mail. Cultural critic Christopher Hoile of Toronto’s Eye Weekly states: “La Sagouine is simply essential viewing. (…) There really are no words to describe the quiet brilliance of Léger’s performance. You simply cannot imagine anyone else so fully and so compassionately embodying such an immensely rich character.” Robert Crew of the Toronto Star says: “It is, in fact, one of the little gems of Canadian theatre — gritty, honest and utterly true to life. I’ve never seen La Sagouine in French and my feeling is that it would add an extra dimension to what is already a warm, wise and wonderful piece of theatre.” Critics praised the universality and realism of the monologues and gave notice to a solid direction and the glorious lighting.

La Sagouine was presented for the first time in 1971. She is the wife of a fisherman and, at 72 years old, scrubs floors for a living. She tells us stories in her own way, speaking of life in general, politics, and poverty with great wisdom and a wonderful sense of humour.

La Sagouine back in her hometown!

La Sagouine is back in her hometown. As every summer, the Dinner Theatre La Sagouine will be presented at Le Pays de la Sagouine in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. For the first time in many years, presentations in English will take place in July and August. Presentations in French are also on the schedule. Le Pays de la Sagouine kicked off its 2010 season on June 20^th. More information at www.sagouine.com.

La Sagouine (Photo by: Dolores Breau)

La Sagouine in English

This year, the dinner theatre La Sagouine will be presented in English. This cleaning woman, with little schooling who has forgotten her own name, continues to surprise, move, and make people laugh with her ruminations on the world and life in general. La Sagouine will be presented in English every Sunday in July and the first two Sundays of August. Presentations in French will also take place in July and August. Tickets on sale now!

All you want to know about Acadian Culture

The opportunity to discover the Acadian joie de vivre! Visitors can join the Pays’ tour guide for daily English presentations and learn about Acadian culture through its history, past, and present! Learn how to play the spoons and taste one of many famous Acadian desserts. English presentations are at 11 am and 2 pm every day.

Mega concert with 1755

The legendary Acadian group, 1755, will entertain the crowd with their popular songs and lively music on Saturday, July 24^th. Tickets are on sale $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Marc Babin will be on stage for the opening act.

Le Pays de la Sagouine in Bouctouche, NB.

Music and entertainment

The public can enjoy an evening of music by local artists on the patio of L’Ordre du Bon Temps restaurant, every Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm. Admission is free.

The popular Alpine Frolics are back! Every Friday night from July 2^th to August 27^th, many groups and artists will perform starting at 9 pm. Tickets are on sale at the door only ($8 for member and $9 for others). The Alpine Frolics are reserved for those 19 years and older.

L’Ordre du Bon Temps restaurant

L’Ordre du bon temps restaurant will open on June 20^th. The Acadian Brunch will be on the menu every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm and the Acadian Buffet will be served Wednesday to Saturday, from July 14^th to August 21^st , 11 am to 2 pm. Many specials will be offered throughout the week.

The complete 2010 program is available on the website at www.sagouine.com . The public can buy tickets by calling the box office at 1 800 561-9188 or on the website.

A video of the artists in repetition for the summer is available at http://sagouine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38 .

“The idea came from employees that wanted to organize a community event to help victims of the tragedy in Haiti. This supper will reunite people from the community while lending a hand to a good cause”, indicates Marie-France Doucet, General Manager of Le Pays de la Sagouine.

Certain characters such as Citrouille, Noume, Peigne, Mariaagelas, les Chicaneuses as well as musicians from Le Pays de la Sagouine will be present. All the profits will go to the Rotary International and the Canadian Red Cross.

“This disaster has touched a lot of people and they need our help. We didn’t hesitate when Le Pays de la Sagouine asked us to collaborate to this event. This initiative is very important for the Town of Bouctouche,” mentions Bouctouche mayor, Aldéo Saulnier.

Daniel Allain, president of the Bouctouche Rotary Club: “We are pleased to collaborate to this fundraiser. One of our missions is to help international causes and this fits in very well with our objectives.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased through Le Pays de la Sagouine’s ticket office at the cost of $10 per adult and $7 per children by calling 506-743-1400 or 1-800-561-9188. There will also be a take-out service available.