You get “Broadway”, then you get “off-Broadway” and then you get “Pavé d’Orsay way”.
Tucked in a little space on 48 rue de Lille in the 7th district of Paris, a stone throw from the Musee D’Orsay is a little theater known as Le Pavé d’Orsay where acting classes take place from the Bilingual Acting Workshop. 
Every Tuesday night a group of budding actors gather together for a class of Performance Lab for Actors and Directors given by a very talented director Mr Sei Shiomi. 
Sei, a graduate from NYU (Tish School of the Arts) made Paris his home in 1997. Today the accomplished Japanese-born-Boston-raised-and-Paris-based director Sei, is directing an outrageous comedy by Christopher Durang called “Beyond Therapy” as well as collections of other Durang monologues and scenes from other writers which will be performed by his students at the BAW as part of the culmination to the end of the semester.
The reason why I chose to write about this – is because it’s pure fun and pure theatre directed with a fresh and dynamic eye! It’s absurd comedy, it’s in English (a real bonus!), and the cast and crew are hillarious and I simply feel it’s totally worth the publicity on the Paris Popcorn site!
So what is this play about? It’s a farcical comedy that explores what can happen when having a therapist becomes too fashionable. Manhattanites, uptight homophobic Prudence and highly emotional bisexual Bruce, both seek stable romantic relationships with the help of their psychiatrists, libidinous Stuart and eccentric Charlotte, who are more troubled than their patients. Prudence and Bruce find each other (through an ad in the paper – yes it’s set in the 80′s!) and eventually begin to like one another, but Bruce’s jealous lover Bob actively tries to maintain his status quo.
Famous actors such as Sigourney Weaver, Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow and David Hyde Pierce performed as the characters of Prudence and Bruce off broadway back in the 1980’s.
Asking Sei Shiomi why he chose to produce and direct this particular play he says with a smile ” Christopher Durang is one of the most prolific and (more importantly, perhaps) the funniest playwrights working today on the world stage. And, for the last 8 years, my mission has been to present his work to as many people as I possibly can through the Bilingual Acting Workshop Performance Lab. This production of Beyond Therapy is a continuation of that effort and, for this season, we have chosen this crazy social satire simply because it is one of his best! I hope anybody who is interested in thinking about important issues (such as the use/worth of being in therapy) while falling off their seats laughing can all come and see this laughing rollercoaster ride of a play!”
There you have it folks!
The group of passionate Paris-based young actors who will be performing this play at the end of May/begining June are originally from the US, UK, Italy, Indonesia, South Africa and yes, even France and they will delight you with their crazy energy and passion for theatre!
So for a fun, intimate and original night out (and to discover new talent of course!) get your tickets to this unique “Pavé d’Orsay way” performance of Beyond Therapy written by Christopher Durang and directed by the charming Sei Shiomi who fills the play with plenty of vigor and that brilliant comedic-oomph!
To reserve tickets you can leave a voice message on 06.70.09.40.73
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 20h00
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 20h00
Friday, June 5, 2009 at 20h00
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 20h00
