by Rebecca Smith
Full disclosure: Molière was not born on January 15, 1622. We are actually celebrating the birthday of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin.
Son of a comfortable family fueled by the father’s position as Royal Upholsterer, Poquelin seemed to have his life fairly well laid out for him.
But two influencers (yes, even then) ended up steering him to the theater: his thespian-oriented grandfather, who took him to enjoy the bawdy farce players of the 1630s, and the vibrant red-headed actress, Madeleine Béjart, with whom he fell enamored and with whom he founded his company of players.
With this new life course, Poquelin changed his name to “Molière” to spare his family the horrible social disgrace of association with a theater career.
In contrast, we are shouting out the names of our scene performers, who will grace your Zoom screens for his 399th birthday celebration at 5:30 pm on 15 January 2021. Just as Molière’s success and legacy must be shared with an entourage of actors, composers, dancers, artists, musicians, and storytellers, who maximized his works, we have a shining cast to ring out his words. All the talents mentioned above – and more! Museum directors, ballet directors, cultural representatives, civic officials, journalists, a harpist. The crème de la crème of Kansas City creativity and energy.*
A soprano, a rapper, a drag artist, and a balloon wizardess walk into a Molière reading. Oui!
The 40-minute program will include entertaining excerpts from a variety of Molière’s plays. And a bonus segment from a new play written by Philip blue owl Hooser imagining the French fur traders introducing Molière to the First Nations of the Missouri Valley.
What’s more, there will be snippets en française et en anglais.
And no one faces prison, as did Molière — twice. Mayor Quinton Lucas has endorsed the evening. His assistant wrote, “Though he would normally jump at the chance to participate in this event, he is unable to do so due to an already scheduled engagement at that time. … we look forward to perhaps having him there next year.” Voilà!
So you are safe and secure to laugh, wonder, and sigh at Molière’s preeminence — from wherever you choose to watch this Zoom presentation. (You must respond to the forthcoming Evite invitation with a “yes”, as this is the only way you will receive the Zoom link.)
*(In alphabetical order using stage names):
Calvin Arsenia, Molly Balloons, Jeff Bentley, Victoria Sofia Botero, Daisy Buckët, Stuart Carden, Devon Carney, Hillary Clemens, Consuelo Cruz, Jean-Charles Foyer, Kadesh Flow, Christopher Leitch, Gayle Levy, Ron Megee, Sean O’Harrow, Steve Paul, Nicole Hodges Persley, Matt Schwader, Cyprienne Simchowitz, Andrea Tudhope, Julián Zugazagoitia |
Dec 21, 2020, 09:51 am
