The Story: Yves Simard on I On The Sky

(photo credit: Robert Etcheverry)

Me and I on the sky
...a parkbench in New York City begins a journey
by Yves Simard (Scriptwriter and director)

As a performer, I’ve spent a significant part of my professional life on tour. I had the chance of meeting many interesting individuals. I also had the opportunity of witnessing people living their own lives in their own unique way. In fact, one such experience provided me with the basis for the I on the sky project.  The whole idea for the show popped into my mind as I was between performances in New York City.  When you are on tour and not performing, you often have free time you may not know what to do with. In this instance, I decided to go out for a walk in Central Park. I walked for a while taking in the sun and seeing the many individuals going about their daily lives. I decided to sit down on a bench and look up at the beautiful blue sky.  As I saw the people walking by, I suddenly realized that I didn’t know any one and that in fact, I was something like a temporary immigrant in the USA. Which got me thinking about people you come across in the streets. 

In fact, you don’t know most of the people that pass you by. You have no idea where they come from, where they’re going or even why. I was sitting on a park bench, the weather was beautiful, the sky was blue… and I was homesick. That is what I was feeling at that moment.