Le Pays de la Sagouine searching for Viola Léger replacement

Le Pays de la Sagouine is searching for someone else to perform the iconic role of La Sagouine, which has been played for more than 40 years by Acadian artist Viola Léger.

Acting general manager Pier Furness says Léger is still selling out dinner theatre performances of the play La Sagouine, however she is only under contract for two days every week.

"You've got to realize she's 83 years old. Two days is plenty for her and we respect that," said Furness.

However audiences want to be able to see the beloved character seven days per week.

La Sagouine, one of author Antonine Maillet's best-loved characters, is described as a modest woman with an honest view of the world.

"'Sagouine' in French means 'house cleaning lady,' so everybody has a house cleaning lady and none of them are the same," said Furness.

"So what we're trying to find is somebody who will play that house cleaning lady, that Sagouine, but having her own language, her own intonation to it."

Semi-finalists named

Léger, who was presented with a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement earlier this year, has decided not be involved in the search for a new actor.

'We do not want to have an imitation or an interpretation of Viola Léger's Sagouine. She's been playing it for 42 years and we do not want to have a rendition or an impression of that. We told every candidate who came for the first audition that what we wanted was their Sagouine.' —Pier Furness, Le Pays de la Sagouine

Furness says after open auditions, eight women are moving on.

"We do not want to have an imitation or an interpretation of Viola Léger's Sagouine. She's been playing it for 42 years and we do not want to have a rendition or an impression of that. We told every candidate who came for the first audition that what we wanted was their Sagouine."

The final three will be announced on Wednesday and then Furness says the jury, which includes Antonine Maillet, and members of the public will vote.

The winner will enter an internal theatre school at Le Pays de la Sagouine to learn the character during the winter.

Of the semi-finalists, one is from Quebec, one is from Nova Scotia and the remaining six are from New Brunswick.