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It was worth the wait. After a slow autumn rentrée, theater from France's anglophone community is out in force this month, led by the return to Paris, after a two year absence, of the Footsbarn Travelling Theatre. A cooperative of international players founded in Cornwall, England in 1971 and based in France since 1990, these expatriates bring two shows: Molière's "Don Juan" and Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale," both performed in V.O. However, linguistics are secondary in a Footsbarn production; masks, circus arts, music and special effects come together in a visual theater style owing to Jacques Lecoq and the Big Top. In "Don Juan," the legendary lover, trailed reluctantly by his valet Sganarelle, sets washerwomen caterwauling for his affections, fights off hordes of marauding bandits and braves towering ghosts while evading two brothers bent on avenging the seduction of their sister. Even with all that action, the plot is but a vehicle for slapstick, clowning, fencing duels and stilt-walking. "A Winter's Tale" turns the same high-spirited approach on the Bard, with a surprising hint of Africa in the costumes and decor. Irreverently liberal, original adaptations of classic works are the mainstay of Footsbarn's repertoire, but the "Travelling" is the key to Footsbarn's identity. An itinerant troupe up until the company laid down stakes in the Auvergne nine years ago, Footsbarn still criss-crosses the world; past tours include "The Odyssey" in India, "Macbeth" in Australia and, this winter, Molière shorts in West Africa. A transcontinental voyage from China to Spain is in the works for 2001. With its peregrinations, the company adds to its numbers no less than its fame; members now hail from 10 countries. The visit to Paris this month highlights Footsbarn both past and present, with Shakespeare under a tent (classic Footsbarn) and Molière in the gorgeously restored Théâtre Louis Jouvet (thoroughly à la française). As if on cue, Paris-based anglophone drama deploys its talents also in February, presenting four shows. Throwing together a lonely ex-prostitute, her second-class thug boyfriend and a men's hairdresser with a death wish, English playwright Joe Orton's "The Ruffian on the Stair," presented by Felina Productions, is a savage little one act that takes the Pinteresque theme of the invaded huis closto the point of no return. With humor and tenderness, director Bob Meyer underscores the violence, the desperation and the dignity of these shabby and shattered lives. Bringing to Paris one of the sharpest playwrights of post-WWII England (overshadowed in France by Pinter), whose own life, even before he was murdered by his lover, much resembled his theater, this show is long overdue. Elizabeth Corbett plays a perfectly frayed Joyce, and her singing nearly steals the show. The voice of working-class Brits, author John Godber offers a scathing yet empathetic glance at English culture in "April in Paris," the story of listless Yorkshire natives Bet and Alan who win a romantic trip for two to the City of Lights. In On Stage Theatre's production, the north country accents and mannerisms that Godber played on for the home folks come second in interest to the humorous hits on cultural differences that expatriates now laugh at but that still make tourists scream: the Turkish toilet, the steak (tartare), the nagging impression that one is hopelessly underdressed... An American expatriate, Gertrude Stein thought that writers should ideally live in two countries to tap their spiritual riches. In "Gertrude Stein and Friends," American actress/singer Béla Grushka explores this theme in her own life and in that of one of the most influential figures of 20th century art and letters. Stein's salon in the rue de Fleurus comes alive in this musical one-woman show, written by Grushka, with an original score by Aleksander Terris. Stein's lover Alice B. Toklas is there of course (a life-sized rag doll), as are Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Sylvia Beach... An affectionate look at how Americans and French see themselves and each other and a frank reading of the Stein/Toklas couple. Set also in this same golden age for writers and artists, "Modigliani, My Love" is a hopeless poem of fatal devotion recited by Jeanne Hébuterne, the Italian painter's young mistress and model, who, two days after the artist's death in 1920, jumped from her window while nine months pregnant. Jeanne's story is recounted by three representations of herself living, dead and a yet innocent girl as they battle over her soul. Regrettably, author Barry Fantoni's attempt to sound the depths of this woman's heart comes up with only a horribly bleak conclusion: the model is a meaningless shadow without the great artist who made her, the woman is nothing without her man. The only thing worth throwing out on the sidewalk is that kind of outdated Freudian psychology. Kudos to three talented actresses who do their best to make sense of it all. "Don Juan," til Feb 13, Tue, 7pm, Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 4pm; Athénée Théâtre Louis Jouvet, 7, rue Boudreau, 9e, M? Havre Caumartin, 40-160F, tel: 01.53.05.19.19. "The Winter's Tale," Feb 16-28, Tue, 7pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 4pm; Chapiteau, 47, quai d'Austerlitz, 13e, M? Gare d'Austerlitz, 90-140F, tel: 01.53.05.19.19. "The Ruffian on the Stair," til Feb 27, Thu-Sat, 7:30pm; "April in Paris," til Feb 27, Tue-Sat, 9pm, Théâtre de Nesle, 8, rue de Nesle, 6e, M? Odéon, 90F/70F, tel: 01.46.34.61.04. "Gertrude Stein and Friends," til Feb 28, Tue-Sat, 9pm; Sun, 5 pm; Sudden Theatre, 14 bis, rue Ste-Isaure, 18e, M? Jules Joffrin, 100F/70F, tel: 01.42.62.35.00. "Modigliani, My Love," til Feb 13, Mon, 9pm; Sat, 3:30pm; Bouffon Théâtre, 26-28 rue de Meaux, 19e, M? Colonel Fabien, 60-90F, tel: 01.47.59.01.21. |
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