His letters / Ses Lettres
By Robbye Apperson, USA
Friday, June 1, 2007 - 6:30 PM
WICE, 20 bd. du Montparnasse, 75015
Click here for reservations.
The Screenplay
SES LETTRES (His Letters) is a story of love, art and human triumph over tragedy. Set in present-day Paris, the play’s action begins 15 years after a staggering emotional trauma borne primarily by the protagonist, Garren Douglass, a poet and painter, and three of the play’s peripheral characters. Though the characters are also developed through the action of “traditional” scenes, the specific persona of the protagonist, Douglass, as well as his dark secret, are largely developed through a series of personal letters and poems.
The Artistic Company
Robbye Apperson, Screenwriter. Robbye Apperson is a playwright and poet who, has returned to the writing scene after a creative absence of 12 years. She is the author of six plays to date: His Letters, (2006); Lois' Strange Fruit (1995); Brunch at Linda's(1995); Baby Brawn: A War Story (1994), 2nd Place Winner of the 1995 WMAR/Arena Players Drama Competition; Our Mother's Daughters (1993); and Corners (1989). Ms. Apperson is also the author of two collections of poems, Reincarnation Blues: Poems From the Master Year (1993); and Black Venus (1993), a collection of feminist poetry. Her poetry has appeared in the Baltimore Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun, and in the 1994 New Breezes Anthology of African American Literary Voices. Primed to launch the Baltimore Playwrights Theater in late 2007, Ms. Apperson said she is anxious to read scripts by multi-ethnic playwrights from around the world. She resides in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and teenage son.
Fawn Wilderson-Legros, Director. Fawn has been directing original theatre productions for over 25 years. She appreciates the creative interaction that comes with working directly with writers on a new idea. She has especially enjoyed creating and producing "choreopoems", or full length productions that weave together poetry, live music, dance and light shows. His Letters, which incorporates poetry and prose coupled with film projection and performance, follows in this tradition. His Letters is Fawn's first adaptation of a stage play into a script for cinema and she has been pleased to work with Robbye Apperson on this adventure.
Joseph Langley reading the role of Garren Douglass
Joseph Langley is an actor, musician, acrobat, and professional painter. As an acrobat, he was part of the Zingaro Cabaret (1988-1990). As a musician, Joe has been singing Jazz in Paris since 1990. Learn more at his myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/josephlangley
Manda Djinn reading the role of Lorraine Douglass, Garren's mother.
Writer, composer, former dancer, and jazz and gospel singer Manda Djinn hails from New York City. After having toured for many years in South America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa with her jazzy one-woman show, she settled in Paris in 1984. There, starred in the Paris Folies Bergere and then went on to sing gospel in hundreds of solo concerts around France. Her first play, a musical comedy, GOSPEL TRUTH (now WHO SHOT ROSA?), showcased in Paris at the Pierre Cardin Theater in April 2003. She has fond memories of playing Henry, the tap-dancing butler, in two productions of Eve Merriam's award winning play, THE CLUB back in the U.S.A.
John Gallagher reading the role of Walter Brice
John Gallagher was born in a corn field in central Illinois and as soon as he learned to drive went north to Chicago where he founded the Stage Left Theatre Co. Five years later he moved to Vienna, Austria. In Vienna he worked as an actor touring Europe and eventually landed in Paris. And today, twenty years later, he is still in Paris.
Joëlle Séchaud reading the role of Hildi Brice.
Joëlle Séchaud's first passion was modern dance—but then she fell in love with acting. She's appeared in plays in Lyon, Paris, at the Avignon festival, and in a several short movies and commercials. She's been training with Jack Waltzer (acting coach, member of the Actors Studio) since 1994, and works as his assistant, helping to organize his Parisian workshops and translating the classes. Joëlle is currently collaborating on a documentary entitled JACK WALTZER: ACTING COACH about Waltzer’s acting method and carreer.
Irina Dorobat reading the role of Greata Clarke.
Mark Caffrey reading the role of Raphael
Mark is from Northern Ireland and studied at King's College, London and RADA. Theatre credits include NARCISSUS, THE LARAMIE PROJECT and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Most recently he returned to Belfast as one of four young directors selected for the Prime Cut 'Director's Lab' mentorship program, where he concentrated on scenes from Lanford Wilson's BALM IN GILEAD.
Lindsay Mitcham reading the roles of Gianni, Sylvain, the Waiter, and various other roles.
Francesca Hanak reading the roles of Aunt Patricia, Janice, and other roles.
Erin Perrine as Narrator
Canadian-born Erin appeared on stage for the first time at the age of 13 and has been in more than a dozen shows since. She studied theatre and performance at Toronto's York University and Humber College. Since arriving in Paris 6 years ago, she has been very active in improvisational theatre and theatre for young audiences. She'ss an actress/director with Drama Ties, an educational-based theatre company teaching drama to French students and performing in the company's shows. She's also acting in student film projects at the international film school, EICAR. She hopes to continue expanding her experience here in Paris and is excited to be involved in the launch of Theatre du Monde's screenplay readings.
The Production Team
Fawn Wilderson-Legros, Producer.
Alexis Niki, Production Associate, Paris
ON CAMERA:
Robert Enteen
Joanna Margueritte
PHOTOS BY:
Kyliskylis P Winborne
Alexis Niki
Stockexchange.com
PAINTINGS BY:
Minneapolis, MN artist, Ken Green
see: http://www.artcrawl.com/cgi-bin/artcrawl/ac.es2?artist.code=green001
Special Thanks To:
Naida Crenshaw, President of WICE
For over 25 years, the WICE Institute for Continuing Education has provided high quality programs for the adult English-speaking community of Paris. Join our membership of men and women from a variety nationalities and take advantage of more than 40 courses offered bi-monthly. For program and registration details, visit us online: www.wice-paris.org.