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An original, one-woman show
about the life of actress Sarah Berhnhardt |
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| LA VIE DIVINE! is about the famous turn-of-the-century French actress Sarah Bernhardt. Renowned for her golden voice and her ability to fully inhabit the roles she played, "the Divine Sarah" moved beyond the stilted, artificial portrayals common in theater at the end of the 19th century and brought a more realistic drama to the stage. The theme of the play is a simple one: passion! Sarah arrives dressed as Hamlet–a role she undertook despite the doubting critics of her time. The device is pure Sarah. A true diva and perhaps the first international superstar, she played such diverse characters as Camille, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc and Tosca–and she lived her life as largely off stage as she did on the boards. During the play, she recounts how passion pushed her along and kept her acting long after others would have retired–or died. I was inspired to write La Vie Divine! because, quite frankly, what actress wouldn't want to play such a monumental character? I began my research by reading The Divine Sarah by Arthur Gold and Robert Fizdale, then managed to track down an English translation of My Double Life, Sarah's autobiography. In the course of the research, I discovered a woman whose life was as intricate and finely crafted as her performances. |
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| Fully costumed, La Vie Divine! is a lesson in history and the passionate pursuit of life, wrapped in an entertaining package of humor, sorrow and the will to become immortal. The program runs about one hour and requires little space, allowing its performance nearly anywhere. Only a small table and chair are needed; all other props are supplied. Post-performance question/answer sessions can also be arranged. |
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