October 15, 2009
Playing French Seattle to feature works by Feydeau, Balzac, Beckett and Romanian-born playwright Matei Visniec
The third annual Playing French Seattle festival of dramatic works will feature Romanian-born playwright Matei Visniec and also includes work by Georges Feydeau, Honoré de Balzac, and Samuel Beckett. The festival runs Oct. 20 — Nov. 1 at the UW’s Ethnic Cultural Theatre.
Two works by Visniec will be staged — Le Deuxieme Tilleul a Gauche and Old Clown Wanted. UW doctorial candidate Otilia Baraboi will open the festival on Oct. 20 and introduce Visniec’s plays.
Visniec left Romania in September 1987, and was granted political asylum in France. His absurdist plays, written in French, have been staged in more than 30 countries. In Romania, after the fall of communism, Visniec has become one of the most frequently performed authors.
Honoré de Balzac, novelist of La Comedie Humaine, wrote five plays before his death in 1850. The last of these, Le Faiseur, was accepted by the Comedie Française but not staged there until 143 years later, in 1993. This new bilingual (French /English) adaptation is directed by Steeplechase Producer Tom Ansart. The central character of the play, Mercadet, is a stock speculator who has been swindled by his business partner, Godeau. The play is a foreshadowing of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
Playing French Seattle is a registered student organization at the UW. To join, send a message to drame@u.washington.edu. Half-price student tickets are available, and there is free admission for Ethnic Cultural Center affiliated groups.
For complete information, click here.
