Week Three

14.08.08.

This week in class we discussed our thoughts on the previous evening and Myf asked if anyone had any thoughts about the project and the structure which the final performance may take. I immediately suggested a central theme or form which mirrors the cycles of life because of all the diverse ages of all the City Voices members and the contrasts with the students. I also mentioned my enthusiasm to work with Cathy because of our mutual admiration for Edith Piaf, and in relation to the theme I put forward- I referenced a song by Piaf called 'Les Trois Cloches' (The Three Bells) which is about the three bells in everyone's life; a bell for baptism (birth), a bell for marriage (relationships) and a bell for a funeral (death).

In relation to the Piaf section of the project- several people suggested that I resurrect my impression of Piaf which I performed a few months ago. I am nearly in total refusal about this idea for a few of reasons. The first reason- I don't want to belittle or create any level of satire around Cathy's performance, and I am definite that me in drag will do this. Secondly, I don't want to add unnecessary or inappropriate humour where it is not needed. Finally, I have already 'done' that performance and I want to move forward into something new. I realise the contradiction that I am still having a revival of the Piaf ghosts by again constructing a work about her, but I feel that it is more about Cathy's appreciation of the Little Sparrow and I (who can relate to that particular interest) can help Cathy bring out the best potential performance about her feelings about Piaf's music.

After listening to some other suggestions from students, I began to feel concerned that this performance could possibly turn rather morbid, defeatist or sentimentalised. I am sure that these recurring suggestions (including my own) are influenced by the kinds of people we have recently become acquainted with, but I am adamant that our performance must be uplifting. Of course we must address serious and traumatic issues in this performance, but we should avoid a pessimistic approach otherwise we will be sending a "what's the point?" message to our audience which would be a grave mistake seeming that we are performing with mentally handicapped people and we don't want to communicate the idea that their lives are empty.
In contrast, I'm also afraid that the performance could head in the opposite direction and become tacky and overly sequined which would make our co-performers look out of place.
I'm furthermore concerned that it doesn't come across that we are at all exploiting our new co-performers. We must not make them 'symbols'; we should make their stories transcend their disabilities.

After our lengthy class discussion, we worked on a dance/ musical number around Brian's song we wrote about Ringo Starr. Emma, Ashlee, Anita, Jo, Anna and I provided the simple choreography while the rest of the class worked on their vocals.

I am becoming increasingly confident and zealous with this project, and I can't wait to get working with Cathy so that we can blow the crowd away with 'Milord', 'Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien' or 'Les Trois Cloches'!

I'm thinking obsessively of ways in which I can help Cathy bring her passion for Piaf to life, and I'm collecting props that we could utilise.

Here is a link if you'd like to download 'Les Trois Cloches' (or http://edith-piaf.narod.ru/piaf2a.html). Otherwise I've included a YouTube video of a live performance of the song (which is painfully short).


"Car ma vie
Car mes joies
Aujourd'hui
Ça commence avec toi..."





(Les Trois Cloches)