This Weekend Only: Jacques Brel at Theater On The Lake

By Julienne Bilker in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 8, 2009 9:20PM

If Jacques Brel’s name rings a bell, chances are good that you’re thinking of the musical revue Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris - which will NOT be performed at Theater On The Lake this weekend. What WILL be performed is a remount of Theo Ubique Theatre Company’s critically-acclaimed production of Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night.

Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well… and Lonesome Losers are both revues of the Belgian singer-songwriter’s work - so what’s the difference? Glad you asked. With a few exceptions, there are different songs in each show, but the big deal is the lyrics. It is widely acknowledged that the beauty of much of Brel’s music is undone for many English speakers by poorly translated lyrics. Lonesome Losers contains songs translated exclusively by Arnold Johnston, a professor at Western Michigan University who is credited by Brel’s widow as being a better translator than Eric Blau, who did most of Alive And Well. You can listen to Johnston discuss the creation of Lonesome Losers here.

We realize that for much of the summer, music + lake = Castaways, so take advantage of the chance to mix things up a little. There are only five performances, including tonight.

Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night, thru July 12. Theo Ubique Theatre Company at Theater On The Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive, 312-742-7994. Tickets $17.50.