Émilie’s Excellence
February 12, 2011 by Hedonista · Leave a Comment
Which should rule? The heart or the head? Talk about an unsolved formula!
The crucial role of women in hedonism simply can not be denied; their forms are enticing, their minds are brilliantly complex, and their overall nature truly sensual. Another performance worth attending this month is that which tells of the life and times of one serious hedonist, Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du Châtelet. Her mere existence defines inspiration.
Born on December 17, 1706, she died from complications as a result of childbirth on September 10, 1749. During those 43 years, however, she was a veritable force supérieure - mathematician, physicist, author, card sharp, high society wife, and mother. Émilie du Châtelet was brilliant, independent, and passionate – a real beauty as well as a true hedonist who loved the high life and took many lovers, including the great French poet/playwright/philosopher François-Marie Arouet Voltaire.
Talk about intellectual incest: Voltaire (Nick DeSantis) and Émilie (Kate Witt). Phot by Michael Brunk, provided by ArtsWest, and used with permission.
The play – in the throes of its Seattle première – is none other than Émilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight was written by Laura Gunderson to help uncover the mystery surrounding one of the most intriguing women of the 18th century. In this play, she does what many feel they must: defend the value of her existence through the tallying of her achievements in both love and philosophy, as well as solve a formula that would finally convince the world of her worth. Through her all-to-human struggles with her demons – here self-doubt and insecurity – she shows what an amazing individual she in fact was; and, if we are self-reflective and possess the ability to read between the lines, our takeaway from this play is that we are all fallible yet fabulous just the way we are. Seattle actors Kate Witt (director of Love Song), who plays Émilie and Nick DeSantis (Voltaire) keep it so we can’t take our eyes off of them … besides, we might miss some copulation. The performance by Sara Coates (great to see in An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein), who plays Soubrette and the memory version of Émilie was also enjoyable, as was the rest of the cast – Jason Marr and Jody McCoy – who like Sara Coats also play multiple roles throughout the play.
Sexy, intellectual, hugely comedic, and directed by Susanna Wilson of ArtsWest, this play runs from January 26th, 2011 to February 20th, 2011 – and is worth seeing (your Hedonista attended as media not long ago). (And yes, the content of the play is hedonism and thus recommended for viewers 14 years of age and older.) Tickets are $32, with group discounts and “under 25″ rates of $10.
