Forgotten Play by Sarah Bernhardt to Receive US Premiere

A forgotten play by Sarah Bernhardt, The Confession, will be given its United States premiere by the Xoregos Performing Company at Wings Theatre in an eleven performance two week run between April 12-21, 2007.

"The Confession is part of a fin-de-siècle program, Arts Nouveaux—Une Célbération, which includes dances, songs, plays and designs of the 1890-1914 era.  Dances after Isadora Duncan and Loïe Fuller, songs by Debussy, Fauré, Reynaldo Hahn, a new play, Basking by Dave DeChristopher, written as at an 1897 phosphorescent dinner party, will be presented as well as surprises of the Art Nouveau movement.  The plays are presented in English," state press notes.

"The five character cast in The Confession includes a role Miss Bernhardt seems to have written for herself, the Countess (Elizabeth Ruelas plays the role in the new production). The play explores the impact of  the Countess' revelation to her husband and leads to an anguished and shocking conclusion.  Though Bernhardt suffered anti-Semitism during much of her life, she became a celebrated actress and made nine United States tours.  This published one act was given at the Théâtre L'Odéon in 1888.  The rare, beautifully published play includes intricate lithographs upon which the costume designs by Elgie Chevalier, are based."  Artistic director Shela Xoregos will direct.

The Xoregos Performing Company has premiered plays by Oscar Wilde (2004), Jean Cocteau and the painter René Magritte (2005) as well as original works by Adé Adémola, Grace Cavalieri, Dave DeChristopher and Robert DiNardo.  

Dance tributes to Isadora Duncan choreographed by Rael Lamb with text by Rick Foster from his play, Love, Isadora and to Loïe Fuller, choreographed by Shela Xoregos will be danced. Both dancers were American but established their names and lived in Paris at the turn of the century. Costumes for the Isadora sequence are designed by Carla Gant.  Isadora as Dancer is Kimberly Lantz, Isadora as Speaker is Andrea D'Arcy Mead.

Concert and salon songs of the time, sung by Tobias Burns will be accompanied on piano by music director Eugene Abrams. Songs include Gabriel Fauré, Reynaldo Hahn and Edward McDowell.

Other performers are: Nicola Barber, Aidan Koehler, Kenneth Linsley, and Lawrence Merritt.  Set designs by Cameron Caley and lighting by Joyce Liao will replicate the visual style of Paris Art Nouveau.

Perfomance dates are: (Thursday) April 12, 13, 14 at 8:00 PM; (Sunday) April 15 at 3:00 and 7:30 PM; (Tuesday) April 17, 18, 19, 20 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, April 21 at 3:00 and 8:00 PM. The Wings Theatre is located at154 Christopher Street, West Village. All tickets are $20.00 and may be purchased on-line at Theatermania.com, by telephone at 212-352-3101 or at the box office one hour prior to performances.  Wheelchair accessible.

Photos by Anthony Collins
1) Andrea D'Arcy Mead and Kimberly Lantz
2) Elizabeth Ruelas, Lawrence Merritt and Tobias Burns