By Mallory Bowman
University of Louisville French students are bringing the experience of French theatre to campus through their production of ‘Le Banquet de Barbe-Bleue (Blue-Beard”s Banquet)’ today and Thursday.
The one-act play is a 17th-century work by Charles Perrault, who was often referred to as the Walt Disney of his time. The production features the characters of many familiar fairy tales, including ‘Cendrillon (Cinderella)’, ‘Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (Little Red Riding Hood)’ and ‘Le Chat Botte (Puss in Boots).’ The play also stars less familiar characters such as Barbe-Bleue (Blue Beard), a man who posses a dark secret and hides it from his wife.
The play”s 16 cast members are students in the 300-level French Theatre Production course and have been preparing the play since August.
Dr. John Greene, Associate Professor of French, said preparing the production has been a positive alternative language learning experience for his students.
‘It was important to pick a play with a lot of speaking parts,’ Greene said. ‘There is lots of physical humor. The students enjoy the opportunity to work on their language skills while being exposed to theatre in a different culture.’
Senior Theatre major Lessa Wilson, who plays Little Red Riding Hood, said preparing the production has been a new and fun experience because she”s unfamiliar with the French language.
‘At first I had a new kind of stage fright,’ she said. ‘I was concerned with pronouncing words right, but it has been a lot of fun. We”ve really focused on the physical comedy.’
However, Greene said most of the students have had little experience in theatre, so using the language in such a medium has been a great learning experience in theatre for the actors.
Senior French student William Tucker, who plays Blue Beard, said the production has been a chance for him to not only enhances his French speaking skills, but to step outside his personality.
‘It”s given me a chance to live in a personality far from my own, and it”s always fun speaking French in everything,’ he said.
French master”s student Tim Stratman, who narrates the play, assisted the students in learning their lines and pronunciations for the production.
‘I”ve really enjoyed having a class underneath me,’ he said. ‘I”ve really enjoyed taking funny roles seriously. I like playing a part ward anyone interested in French theatre and/or language. He said spectators don”t have to be experienced speakers to enjoy the production.
‘This play was selected to appeal to both an audience of native speakers and beginning language learners,’ he said.
Today”s production is scheduled in conjunction with the Fete de la francophonie, a national celebration of French language and culture in the United States. The festival is taking place in Humanities 100 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The play will be performed at 1:10 p.m. in the Humanities building, rounding-off the festivities for the day.
Thursday”s production will be also be held in Humanities 205 at 1:10 p.m.
All performances are free.
