Friday, December 11, 2009

The English are Coming!

You’ve been in Paris for weeks and the one thing you miss is going to the theater. You want to see one of the many plays in town, but your French isn’t exactly up to par. Sitting in a room for two hours listening to actors in a language you don’t understand isn’t exactly what you had in mind. You
long for the days of English theater, but you are at a loss at what to do. Don’t despair. You can still get your theater fix at Le Pavé d’Orsay on the second Thursday of every month—in English!

Don’t expect a full production with sets, however. Instead you will see professional actors doing a reading of a classic play. Even so, it is magnifique!

Last night I saw A Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill. Yes, the actors were reading their parts, but these people are professionals. They are still performing. Think back to the day when our grandparents only had radio. Actors carried their performances with their voices. It's the same here, only we get the added bonus of seeing what the actor’s look like too.

There is no admission fee, though donations are gladly accepted. Wine, non-alcoholic beverages and light fare are available during the intermission.

Located just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Musee d’Orsay at 48, rue de Lille in the 7th arrondissement. Shows are generally from 7:30-9:30, with a discussion afterwards. Last night’s play was over three hours, so they changed the time to accommodate the length. Check their website for details at Le Pave d'Orsay. If you don't speak French, either scroll down until you find the one event listed in English, or better yet use Google Translate to change the page into English.

...and I would like to point out one more thing. Le Pavé is an art gallery. You may just be lucky enough to enjoy looking at a few contemporary pieces while you are there. Theater and art—who could ask for anything more?!

Thank you for reading and bon journée!