If you are in Paris between now and July 27, run don’t walk to see Maya, une voix, at the Théatre Essaion in the 4th arrondissement. Until the 15th of June, it plays every Friday and Saturday night at 19:45H and from June 28 through July 27, every Friday and Saturday at 21:30H. Anyone who knows anything about Maya Angelou will recognise the story of a young girl sent north with her brother at a young age to live and get an education.. She is raped and, as a result of the trauma, little Maya doesn’t speak a word for five years. This 70 minute production begins with the adult Maya’s awe at being asked to write and then read a poem at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1992; goes back in time to her childhood trauma and how she begins to speak again through writing words; and ends as she opens her mouth to read her poem at the Inauguration.
I learned about the production because Ursuline Kairson, who plays both the adult and young Maya, is a friend. Ursuline came to Paris many years ago as a blues and jazz singer and has never gone back to the US. I got to know her when I first moved here and love following this incredibly talented woman as she takes on so many different kinds of projects. http://www.ursulinekairson.com/en/
The singing is in English and the speaking is in French. If you have a medium grasp of French, you will follow the story. There are four other talented women in the show. Each one wears many hats and, with each change of an apron to suspenders to a sheriff’s hat, the new character is absolutely convincing. We were not allowed to take photos or I would put up many photos of the variety of characters in this vibrant and moving spectacle. After the show, some of us stood around the door outside talking and when the actors came out, we learned that two of the women are pregnant!!
Besides Ursuline, whose voice still jumps and twirls out to the audience, I was especially struck by Julie Delaurentiou. Julie is French but speaks English fluently. She did almost all the translations. She morphed from woman to man and back again with an ease and conviction that I found stunning. I said to someone after the show was over “That woman is going to be a star”. I then learned she is a trained Shakespearian actor. It’s not really fair to say one of them is better than the others. All five woman were extraordinary and for a mere 15euros, I saw a first-rate production in an intimate setting and got to meet all the actors after. What more could a theatre goer want?
Please watch this trailer to get an idea of these women, Eric Bouvron who did the staging and even hear a the real Maya speaking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=96&v=p0G0KMnu5G4
Théatre Essaion
- 6, rue Pierre au lard
(à l’angle du 24 rue du Renard)
75004 Paris - 01 42 78 46 42
- Métro 1–Arrêt Hôtel de Ville
- 11–Arrêt Rambuteau
- 1 4 7 11 14–Arrêt Châtelet
- Bus38 47 75 29–Arrêt Centre Georges Pompidou
- for reduced priced tickets, go to http://www.billetreduc.com
A bientôt,
Sara
Out My Window 
Sara-one of my favorite Maya quotes ties together baseball and charitable giving. I use it often to close talks asking for money for a good cause: “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”
Great post. Wish I could be there to see the show.
Thanks,
Mike Weintraub Sent from my iPad 🍕 Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.
That quote is priceless, Mike. Thanks so much.
Sara, I love your blogs, and I am so sorry that I did not contact you while I was in Paris. my daughter and granddaughter had arranged a packed itinerary, and there just was not time.
I loved this ” reminder” of Maya Angelou. Her wonderful voice still resonates in my ears when I hear her name. Thanks for sharing.