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Memoir: A Play about Sarah Bernhardt's Last Summer
Memoir A Play about Sarah Bernhardt's Last Summer Author:John Murrell Famed for her "golden voice" and her highly emotional performances in tragic and melodramatic roles, French actress Sarah Bernhardt (1845-1923) was the foremost leading lady of her age. Legendary for her unconventionality and her extremes of passion, she counted among her triumphant performances as Corlia in "King Lear", the ... more »Queen in "Ruy Blas", Phedra, Marguerite Gautier, Tosca and Fedora. She also enjoyed great success in "Hamlet" -- not as Ophelia, but as the Prince -- and as Pellead, her love of challenge led her to take on the most demanding of roles regardless of disparities of age or even gender.
In "Memoir", John Murrell choreographs a memory dance for Bernhardt as she recalls the forces and personalities that have shaped her life. Facing an overwhelming need to preserve her experiences, she begins to dictate her memoirs to her faithful secretary, George Pitou. As she and George begin to recreate the personalities and events of long ago, past and present merge into one gloriously poignant moment and the Mediterranean background fades into the recollected landscape of a life fully and exuberantly lived.« less