Me Too, I’m Catherine Deneuve

Our first stop was to the seaside town of Dieppe for the French premiere of Trap Door’s production Me Too, I am Catherine Deneuve at Le Drakkar, the National Theatre of Dieppe on April 6^th.  The sold-out show was extremely well received and was followed by a special talk-back with director Valery Warnotte, and playwright Peirre Notte followed by a vibrant reception to conclude the evening

From Dieppe, Trap Door loaded the show into the designated tour van, and headed across the country to the town of Mulhouse on the German/ Alsace border to perform at the cultural center of the city, the La Filature National Theatre of Mulhouse.  .   These were also met with sold-out audiences followed by question and answer sessions with Warnotte and Notte.  A highlight of the already bright visit was a special dinner with Warnotte’s mother and father at a favorite local restaurant of his.

In the First Arrondissement, in the heart of Paris, looking onto the legendary Rue de Rivoli that leads to the Louvre was the tiny theatre Les Déchargeurs.  In humble contrast to the National Theatres of Dieppe and Mulhouse the moody, warm and charismatic stage at Les Déchargeurs was about half the size of the Trap Door Theatre. The production ran April 17^th through the 28^th this the actors housed at the Cite Internationale Universitaire at the University of Chicago’s international campus. Artistic Director Beata Pilch was accommodated at her place of residence, in the 4^th Arrondissement at the Cité Internationale des Arts, just a short walk from the theatre.

Just a quick ride from the city, was the quaint suburb of Vélizy with its not-so-quaint neighbor, Versailles.  Home of the L’Onde Theatre et centre d’art,   Vélizy was the final locale for Trap Door’s last two performances in France of Me Too, I am Catherine Deneuve and was the largest space yet. A final heartfelt speech from Artistic Director Beata Pilch followed with the sincere appreciation from the cast marked the end of an amazing five weeks.  Between the applause and the finality of it all, it was difficult to exit the stage!