3 X Beckett = ...

PRESENTATION

3 x Beckett = … is the newest production from Propositário Azul – Associação Artística (Artistic Association).

Fate brought 3 actors together who share a like vision that is not unique among all artists. The vision is as common as that of Aeschylus when he had his first chorus stand in the Theatre of Dionysus to tell a story. A story simply told. The 3 actors we spoke of have that same timeless vision. But, unlike Aeschylus, who kept his work in his home town, we three want to venture into the world and share our story with all people in the world.

We also share (with Aeschylus) the same vision of simplicity in storytelling. We do not depend on Herculean sets, special effects, elaborate (therefore expensive) costumes. Our production values will be elegant. It is the words that carry us.

Most importantly, we share a simple love of Samuel Beckett' clear, sharp language and precision of imagery. Our 3 plays, COME AND GO, FOOTFALLS and NOT I embody our vision of direct presentation.

WHEN AND WHERE

We will be performing at the Instituto Cervantes in New York, a recently restored landmark. Our performances will be 10, 11, 12 July 2012. Here we’ll be performing integrally in English.

This production will open in New York City, then Lisbon and later Barcelona. With actors and words as facilitators, we will be able to perform worldwide. We will also be able to use actresses in any country who share our vision in productions wherever we go.

For the opening we’ll have actresses from 3 different nationalities: Canadian, Portuguese and Spanish.

ABOUT BECKETT AND THE SHORT PLAYS

Beckett work offers a dark, tragicomic outlook on human nature. His plays embody a vision, pose an ethical or emotional problem, praise and laugh at humanity (our heroes and our fools). They’re subtle and chromatic. As is a symphony. His theatrical concepts are profoundly and magically theatrical because they come from a profound knowledge of mankind. We hope to give radiance to Mr. Beckett’s vision. We hope to bring music to his words. We hope to bring you magic.

SYNOPSIS

COME AND GO

3 women, Vi, Ru and Flo sit on a bench reminiscing about old school days. Each leaves the stage briefly, and in her absence the other two exchange an appalling secret about the third. This information, whispered by one character in the other's ear, is never revealed to the audience. We know only that all 3 have changed in some disturbing way and that each is unaware of the change in herself.

FOOTFALLS
A dialogue between May and May's mother, whose voice we hear, but whom we never see. The mother is bedridden; May, who never leaves the house, looks after her. May is always pacing. The mother tells us that May has always paced since she was a little girl; they removed the carpet because she 'must hear the feet, however faint they fall'. After a blackout, May resumes with a 'sequel', the story of Mrs. Winter and her daughter Amy, who paced up and down in the village church. May ends by quoting Amy's mother, 'Will you have never done…revolving it all…In your poor mind It all'.

NOT I
A monologue spoken by a MOUTH to a silent Auditor. As the curtain opens, she is already speaking. She continues speaking in broken phrases for the duration of the play, telling of a 'she', never acknowledging that they are MOUTH's own experiences. She speaks of a child, born prematurely, abandoned by her parents, loveless--now seventy years old. Suddenly, while wandering in a field, is overcome with darkness. Thinking at first that this may be punishment for unnamed sins, she finds herself speaking, her words tumbling out uncontrollably. We discover that she has hardly spoken a word for years, that she didn't even enter a 'guilty' or 'not guilty' plea at her trial. Now she pours out her confession to the robed Auditor, who merely raises her arms in a gesture of compassion.

WHO SUPPORTS US?

To make this project possible we have the support of 3 organizations: Propositário Azul – Associação Artística, Arte Institute (a non-profit organization that provides a space for inter-cultural inspiration and is a catalyst for an innovative artistic dialogue between the many communities in New York and the Portuguese artists) and the Instituto Cervantes in New York (one of its main goals is to encourage cultural actvities in collaboration with other organizations). They’re a great help on providing us space to rehearse and present 3 x Beckett = … as well promoting it.

LINKS TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS:
Propositário Azul - Associação Artística
Arte Institute
Instituto Cervantes

ABOUT PROPOSITÁRIO AZUL - ASSOCIAÇÃO ARTÍSTICA

Founded in 2003, Propositário Azul is a group of creative artists, interpreters and educators in Theatre, Voice and Music. The Association promotes independent work groups that valorize a reflection about theatrical practices and the process of creation. Its main goal is to deepen the knowledge of international dramaturgy with a special commitment with Portuguese and Portuguese spoken authors and also re-writing and adapting texts. Since 2003, Propositário Azul has actively developed and produced over a dozen shows that have been presented throughout Portugal.

Continues to create and develop projects within the Portuguese community and workshops with teachers and students from all nations.

Along with our original works we’ve also adapted texts by: William Shakespeare, Anton Tchekov, F. Xaver Kroetz, Jorge Amado, Gil Vicente, José Régio, António Patrício, Armando Nascimento Rosa and Manuel Rui.

In 2011 was financed by DGArtes – Ministry of Culture of Portugal.

HOW WILL WE SPEND THE MONEY?

Money will be spent on: author’s rights, costumes and the director’s salary.

HOW WILL WE SPREAD THE WORD?

We’ve created a page on Facebook and have more info at Propositário Azul website and blog. The organizations that are supporting us will also have an important role in promoting it. And finally, but of extreme importance, we’re using our personal email/FB contacts in Canada, Portugal, Spain and USA.
3 x Beckett on facebook
blog de Propositário Azul

ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF

Short plays by Samuel Beckett

Director : Jim Boerlin

Actors : Maria Fontanals, Sónia Neves and Renée Yakemchuk

Hair stylist: Luísa Vieira

Costumes: Katherine Siracusa

Set Designer: Giovan Villari

Lightning Designer: Bill Agosto

Graphic Designer: Cristina Novo

Video promo Vimeo: Francisco Ferreira

Poster photo: Hugo Franco (thanks also to Regina Nogueira, Adriana Moniz and Teatro da Trindade/Inatel)

Video recording: Rui Pereira