Almost everything that I wrote on the site regarding Roy, I have been a witness of his feats. Except for Romeo and Juliet and I regret it because I have not seen him in that play. But I must write about it as it must have been important for his career. So this testimony is in reference of what I have read or heard about the play.

My favorite witnesses, my younger brother and his girlfriend, were there as they always are at the right place, at the right time.

The have taken great pleasures in talking to me about Romeo and Juliet. My brother was teasing me and Andrée was sharing with me her own reminiscences. She talks about Roy's presence, always insisting on the word presence, illustrating well his physical as well as the emotions that fill up the space when he is on the stage. His acting is intensive, very "here and now". The tell me about the atmosphere, the lights...they must have lived an exceptional evening at the theater. Shakespeare is a giant and a unique treasure of our human cultural heritage. To go thought fours centuries without a failure, you must carry an extraordinary message. The first time I was able to recall what this show of spring 1989 was so precious, it was on a visit of Le Nouveau-Monde Theater some years later. The public was invited to visit the playhouse before major renovations would take place. As I am gifted for this kind of event, I pay them a visit along with my husband, my son and his friend.

The usual tour; the stage, the hall with its boxes, and a beautiful stairway for the actors (which stairway I have referred to in the pages of Monument National). In a hallway, I noticed a picture of Romeo and Juliet. A beautiful picture. They both look like angels. Although I do not remember all the details of that picture, it remains in my memory like a flash, something vanishing. You could feel coming out of the picture Roy's passion for sublime Geneviève that must have been both strong and fragile, gorged with love.

I love Geneviève Rioux as an actress. With dark eyes and dark hair, a pale complexion, a smooth and tall body. An magic voice, she speaks slowly, sure of herself, calm. But she must have been excited in certain scenes and religiously fervent in love ones.

Wanting to know how this play had been received, I have checked critics of two newspapers. Robert Lévesque of Le Devoir had a mixed reaction. He loved Geneviève but not so much Roy. Jean Beaunoyer of La Press was more enthusiastic as saying: " What a splendid Romeo and Juliet". He did appreciate a more virile Romeo. I will quote him,....his critic of April 17, 1989:

" No doubt Roy Dupuis has surprised a lot of people. He played Romeo with such a strength, an intensity and a passion close to an athletic exploit. He never used a ladder to meet Juliet, but he lifted himself up to the platform."

" The love scene made spectators cheer for applause, the actors having given away their entire passion experience with all their youth as well"

He also praised the lighting, the music, the direction from the scene of the wedding night to the heart-breaking final scene, praising as well the brilliant performance of the fencing scenes, purely divine.

Theater and acting are short-lived, but it can be generous and cruel, It gives us unforgettable moments which will never come back. It is like real life sometimes, just a reflection. As I have not seem Romeo and Juliet, I do not have an ever lasting memory of it, so I have learned a lesson and will never pass up an interesting play. But attending the theater regularly could be pretty expensive, and wanting to see everything, I must be selective. I am longing for Roy to get back on the stage; this is where I appreciate him most. On the stage, he is able to give a full measure of his talent. He then moulds himself in the time and space, carving in my memories the images, sounds, atmosphere like and engraver of emotions.

Perhaps that's why theater is perennial, leaving us with ever lasting memories, carved in by talented engravers.