In May of 2007 our Home School association put on a play called Panic in the Palace. The kids had so much fun that – with May approaching – requests to the Mom’s have been filtering in. Knowing that the director from last year would be unavailable this year I got brave and decided to offer my directing services. No. I have never directed a play before. Like many other interests in life that has not stopped me from confidently plowing ahead. (With the exception of automobile repair… I’m still pretty much clueless when it comes to that)
One problem quickly rose to the surface, however. What play to choose. Not have directed upper middle school grades before I don’t have that breadth of knowledge of what play would be easy for the wide range of ages, acceptable to the home school group, and easy to customize. Looking and searching the local library, and various Internet sources was of no help. Royalty fees, lack of direction on what plays to choose, and too much information made it nearly impossible to make a selection.
So, I wrote one.
Nope. I’ve never written a play, either. I was the primary writer of the Hutchinson Local Cable Access station blockbuster hit, “The Red in Your Eyes”, but that was a full length movie, not a play… though the writing thing was similar.
The Haunting of Chateau Cezanne is set in the foothills near Saint Mathieu at the lovely Chateau Cezanne. This story circles around the activities of two groups of children, related to the Matron of the Chateau, Madame LaFontaine.
Madame LaFontaine invites her grandchildren, Theresa (Therese’), Steven (Etienne), and Jericho from the United States for their first summer of lessons in French, and etiquette. Also staying with her are her two grandnieces; Gabrielle and Veronique, and grandnephew Andre’, who spend the summer at the Chateau while volunteering in the local communities.
The grandchildren pursue a mystery of the Haunting of Chateau Cezanne – becoming convinced that such a story exists; primarily based on the testimony of visiting student, Lawrence Bertrand, who has experienced several circumstances that have led him to suspect a ghost resides in the Chateau. Scared by the ghost story, and resolving to do something about it, the children follow Larry’s lead in seeking to do Madame LaFontaine a favor by exercising the ghost from the premises.
At the same time, the grandnieces and grandnephew believe foul actions to be afoot from Omand; the aging, and cantankerous gardener of the Chateau grounds – believing that he intends to send Madame LaFontaine away permanently.
Both groups find out how wrong they are when Omand bursts into the chaotic last scene with a surprise and an explanation: he has been trying to salvage his precious lettuces from a nuisance rodent – a Ragodin (related to the muskrat of North America).
The Chateau is set near an orphanage, run by Fr. Francois, who has a unique friendship with Madame LaFontaine. Sr. Mary Joan – also with the orphanage – is an energetic, young sister responsible for teaching lessons to the children about proper ways to live their faith in service to God; which loosely applies to the storyline.
Its a cute story with a series of chaotic, fast-paced scenes toward the end, and some fun dialogue along the way. I’ve put it out for review to our local Fine Arts Council; hoping to get some critical acclaim – or at the very least some critical feedback.
Once I fit it into final form (estimated to be some time next year) I’ll let you know so you can help me collect those well desired royalties. (Sure, I’ll give you a cut of the profits.) Until then, Bonsoir.