In the Gods with the Chickens

At the meeting of the dissolution of the association of Les Amis du Théâtre Blossac, it was agreed to offer members a ticket to the theatre.  I haven't ever attended a French Play in a French theatre, so with a free ticket as gratitude for the very little support I gave in the last ten years to the restoration of this ancient theatre, I watched a performance of 'Public or not Public' by La Compagnie Théâtrale de l'Esquisse - if you wish you can read about them at this link.

In February 2014, I produced six postings about this Theatre.  The first is here for those who wish to read about it.

I hadn't ever been up to 'the Gods' in France before, so I was delighted to be near Paradise for two hours. I could almost touch the painted ceiling depicting mythological characters.
In France this uppermost part of the theatre is called 'le poulailler'.  Chickens roost up high.
I am not chicken, nor a chicken, and far from being a God or Goddess.

I didn't understand most of the vocabulary in the drama but could understand some words and phrases. I could enjoy most of the humour, the mime, the action, the audience participation, the music, the singing. It was fun.  It was lovely to laugh.  It was amazing to look down upon a stage and its actors.  Within the play there were sketches about Roman Gladiators and Caesar, the Globe Theatre and Shakespeare's plays, plus Carmen mimed to operatic song.  At the end, Strauss's 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' resounded loudly, whilst the four actors returned to prehistory, acting as apes as in the beginning of the Performance. One expected to see Lucie.  It was a fantastic French 'comedie'.  

A stage view

of the uppermost levels.

Four actors present and represent

 in mask and mime,

with fun, light, sound and action.

whilst THIS POSITION  is the nearest to YE GODS and the furthest from the stage. I climbed up higher when every other chicken had left its roost!

It was enough to make one dizzy;  tread slowly, carefully in case of slipping on new wood.

yet, the angel was watching nakedly...

in the theatrical heavens of PARADISE....

Partytime!

Life is strange and full of coincidences.
It was a spookydooky occasion when disguise was appropriate.
This last week I delved into unopened boxes packed extremely efficiently ten years ago and other boxes packed four years ago, some not quite so well. In fact some stuff just packed into the box muddled! Within the last four years some boxes have been opened and strewn in a muddle in my attic when I had searched for something but lazily or in a hurry didn't re-pack the boxes correctly. Likewise the books boxes... I keep discovering more books which need to be assigned to their place!
The coincidence is that I found silver jewelry that could be worn to the party which hadn't been seen for aeons. I found masks used at Hallowe'en events once in France with the kiddies group I used to volunteer with and previous to that at fantastic Hallowe'en parties in England at my neighbour's house! Out came the red scarves, masks, feathers but no hula-hula skirt.  I could have worn that red sequined Monsoon top that I re-discovered exclaiming "WOW"! It had been forgotten, only ever worn the once when I discovered a thread of sequins required replacement. I think I wore it to a Hallowe'en masked ball some 17 years ago, or maybe I bought it because it was fabulous at the time and still is!... ...  ... and another wow, I found art prints from that evening, needing as ever, to be framed! So many memories have been opened in the last week that have made me laugh and tell a story to my Workawayers from California who commented that if only they have such memories and identity when they are my age then they will have known that they have lived!
Sex Pistols played 'Anarchy in The UK' and The Clash played 'London Calling' whilst almost 40 yr olds and some over 50s and moi 65 danced in smoke machine mist...whilst kids galore laughed and danced in the cloud.  It was wonderfully warm for an al fresco bonfire party and fireworks. Evidently Surrey was the warmest place on record in England for October 31st - 22.5 Celsius at about 4pm time!

Cinderella disguised as The Red Witch made it home before the pumpkin arrived and she didn't lose a slipper, malheureusement! English jacket potatoes finished in the bonfire embers plus grated cheddar and baked beans was soooooo good! There were English sausages plus mulled wine... called vin chaud en France! Toffee apples, ghostly cakes, skeletons, bats, cats, and ugly, scary faces made it all fantastic. Great Party. Great friends!

La Crepuscule

At Dusk and into Darkness a while ago, there was a Les Nuits Romanes presentation at Vicq-sur-Gartempe.  "La Compagnie Avis de Tempête" from La Rochelle, presented "Estrellita" : set in 1945, it incorporated music, theatre, comedy, acrobatics, trapeze. Aerial poetry against a church, lit to highlight exterior and interior architecture.  Difficult to take night photos.

The music supported an aerial display by a woman on a trapeze, hooked to a safety line, whilst kinetic energy worked the rope swing.  She wrapped it around her legs or feet or body,  then released herself to fall but of course the rope held her.  I was with her on the swing.  I felt that heart beat, that exhilaration when one pushes higher and higher to the bar! 
The theatrical setting was of a different bar... a bal guingette, where four musicians played an Italian styled musette accordion, a double bass, a silvery sparkly drum and percussion kit,  and a violin, the sound of which wasn't sufficiently acoustically balanced to hear melodies that followed those of the accordion.  The woman sat with her back to the chap as if in disagreement or dispute.  Maybe they were lovers, because after his balancing skills on four chairs and a table, which the waiter had prepared, dusted and cleaned, she suddenly threw herself through the air to wrap herself silently across his body like a tiny child who clings to its mother. Wow... Later, he received her feet on his hands with the weight of her body after she had ended her trapeze act.  It reminded me of how my grand daughter aged six has always and still does, stand on her father's hands and feet! I was impressed with the style of music... it is music I have sometimes played... Parisian style musette from 1940s. 
I ordered a CD because they had sold out!  It arrived, but now the laptop CD player has decided not to operate! 
The evening was extremely well attended... though the elderly, older than I, who were sat could not have seen much apart from all the heads in front of them.

L'Ancien Theatre in Chatellerault: 6

The Peristyle is used as a foyer.

1967 the theatre was deemed to be outside of the cultural life of Chatellerault and any project to renew it was too onerous. 
1973 there was an order for it to be closed because of the danger of fire.
1977 The Maire confirmed it was going to be destroyed. An association to save it was led by Michel Bidron. it has been a long process but I am so very glad the theatre has been conserved and is classed as a Historic Monument de France. Thank you to all those who had faith!
And now....please go to the theatre as part of the audience or have a guided tour.  Treat yourself!
There is a depth to this theatre that I have not been able to relate or reproduce in these postings nor yet uncovered. Over to you!

PS If I am able to read / translate / discover more important facts I will update my blog with new postings! 

L'Ancien Theatre in Chatellerault: 5

These photos are of a maquette on display.

And some other lovely decorative features:

L'Ancien Theatre in Chatellerault: 4

The sets, curtain and allegorical ceiling paintings are the artistry of Emile Vernon, from the École des Beaux-Arts, Tours, France. This is a reproduction of the main curtain which has two oculi to espy if the audience are ready for the show!  It depicts the Henri IV bridge over La Vienne river between Chatellerault and Chateauneuf.  I wonder if all the original has been kept and if so, where? I hope examples of the other artefacts are in storage somewhere.

 This blog shows his paintings in their original state - untouched! Thank you to the blogger!

SPRINGTIME COMETH
Evidently the cranes went over yesterday but I didn't see them! 

L'Ancien Theatre in Chatellerault: 3

I am very fond of this theatre and have been a member of "Les Amis" for several years, offering my humble support for the rescue of this unique building.  It was dilapidated and at its worst when a friend and I had a guided tour. Earlier this week I was rapturous and so happy to see it looking exquisitely beautiful when I attended the AGM.

I don't think my level of French would withstand a performance but maybe if I can find an event that hasn't yet sold out I would love to dress in my finery and be chaperoned as part of the audience, as part of the theatre that the actors may or may not see when all the lights are shining upon THEM.  I would be in the dark in more ways than one!   I would be with the Godesses of Thalia and Mesopmene in Paradise!

You could read: 
http://www.ville-chatellerault.fr/grands-projets/ancien-theatre