Le Souffleur - Newsletter

Bonne Année pour les 28 ans du MFT !

For 2004, MFT continues with its policy to present two productions of a modern play in May and a classic one in September.

2003 Season


MAY - La tête des autres by Marcel Aymé
This ambitious post-World War II production was creatively directed by Morgan Dowsett for MFT’s 58th MFT production. Staged in a “film noir” style, the production benefited from a wonderful cast including Dominique Gibert as the self-interested Maillard, Vanessa Peltier as Juliette his adultery-prone wife, Andrew McIntyre in the role of the senior prosecutor Bertolier, Anna Gibert who skillfully played his adulterous wife Roberte, Jean-François Delvaen as the innocent and possibly corruptible Valorin, Nadège Dudicourt as Renée Andrieu, Gaël Calvez as Louis Andrieu, friends of the Maillards, the deliciously evil Lambourde was played by Clifford Edouard, Eddy Fatha played the torturer Gorin, Hélène Lee was Luisa the secretary to the corrupt kingpin Alessandrovici, Michael Bula and Jean-Christophe Richard played the hapless murderer Dujardin.

Morgan was capably assisted by Yuen Cho the stage manager, Karin McLean for design, Fiona Sweetman for design and costumes, Frances Terrett as assistant stage manager, Peggy Videgrain (also responsible for publicity, marketing, sponsorship and communications) and Nathan Moss for surtitles, Joanna de Keyser for sound, Eddy Fatha for artwork and production image, our wonderful secretary Angèle Cadge, Frédérique Imam and Nikilia Tsolakis as assistant theatre secretaries and text transcribers, Selina Hughes as ticket secretary and Michael Bula for theatre management and so many other persons.

The play attracted the near record of 721 spectators or an average of more than 100 per show, nearly equalling that of the Feydeau double of 2002 (742).

Dominique Gibert as Maillard and
Andrew McIntyre as Bertolier		 Anna Gibert as Roberte and Jean-François Delvaen
as Valorin in a racy scene

SEPTEMBER - Dom Juan by Molière

For the 59th production, MFT was proud to welcome back a previous director, Chris Bendall, who directed Le Père Noël est une ordure for MFT in 2000.

Difficulties in finding the lead characters, obliged a rethink of this French classic. The result was a very successful bilingual version, which was also staged at the Richmond Library Theatrette, the same venue as for the May production. MFT engaged two professional actors in Christopher Brown as Don Juan and Greg Ulfan as Sganarelle. Elvire was ably played by Jayne Tuttle, whom MFT last saw in the rehearsed reading of L’importance d’être Constant by Oscar Wilde (1996), our leading man Dominique Gibert played the two roles of Don Carlos and Gusman, Morgan Dowsett played Don Alonse and La statue du Commandeur, Michael Bula played Don Louis, Vanessa Peltier played Charlotte and la Violette, Cynthia Sica was Mathurine and Ragotin, Eddy Fatha was Pierrot andClifford Edouard was Monsieur Dimanche et la Ramée.

The production team was much the same as for Aymé with Frances Terrett assuming the role of assistant director and stage manager, Emmanuelle Boursin for costumes, Greg Abendroth and Joël Valerie for technical, Didier Moutoussamy for artwork and production image, our dear friend and long time member Micheline Giroux as language consultant, Dominique Cuhat-Cotsopoulous as ticket secretary and so many other people who came to help at the last minute.The show was presented in the Richmond Library Theatrette, well supported by video-assisted English surtitles.

Christopher Brown as Don Juan Greg Ulfan as Sganarelle Eddy Fatha as Pierrot and
Vanessa Peltier as Charlotte

Committee et al.

The 2003 committee comprised Michael Bula (Executive Director), Angèle Cadge (Secretary), Henry-Claude Méra absent on leave, Jean-François Delvaen and Dominique Gibert.

Wine bar

The wine bar proved so popular and profitable for MFT, that it has become a permanent fixture. We shall continue to offer wine, soft
drinks, tea and coffee and assorted foods to enhance that unique Melbourne French Theatre experience.

Subscriptions

Just a reminder that subscription fees for 2004 are due in January. Click here for more details

Special offer

For the third time, we are offering subscribers a 10% reduction in fees if they supply their email address.

As advised last year, the general mailing list has now been significantly reduced. If you want to be kept informed, we appeal to you to join. Do read and complete the form enclosed to reap the benefits in 2004 and show your support for our activities as it provides important fundraising revenue, so MFT can continue to present its wonderful productions! Please join/rejoin today.

Tax Deductible Donations

In the subscription form, we urge you to consider a fully tax deductible donation of $100 or more, for which we issue a tax receipt. You can reduce your taxable income and benefit a worthy cause. Click here for more details

MFT Web Site

2003 consolidated the development of the website, set up in 2002. MFT requests that you consult it, as we do not have adequate personnel back-up, in order to communicate with us (email contact form), download forms and information by selecting a button on the left.

2004 Program

Un Air de Famille (Just Like a Family) by Jaoui and Bacri - 4 to 8 MAY
Le Barbier de Seville (The Barber of Seville) by Beaumarchais - 7 to 11 SEPTEMBER
Restaurant evenings - PERIODIC

English Surtitles

Again, all year 2004 productions and beyond shall have PowerPoint slide video projected English surtitles. Please tell your non-French-speaking friends and acquaintances.

Rehearsal Space

MFT is proud to announce that the City of Yarra continues to be a major sponsor of MFT, since 1999, providing rehearsal space for free and performance spaces at a greatly reduced cost. MFT gratefully thanks the City of Yarra.

Production

MFT is currently seeking :

  • directors

  • actors

  • ticket secretaries

  • production managers

  • set designers & constructors

  • graphic artists

  • stage managers

  • costume co-ordinators

  • admin & publicity staff

  • strong drivers with vehicles.

To save time see our contact page and please only send your CV by email, fax or post to us (see below).

Sponsorship

MFT is seeking corporate sponsorships for 2004, for which extensive publicity on posters and programmes and complimentary tickets are available, as well as advertising on our video screen by projection of logos at shows. Special thanks to all our present sponsors, especially the French Embassy and Consulate General, without whom MFT could not exist.

Editorial

Editorial
Editor - Michael Bula
Secretarial - Nikilia Tsolakis
Art, Photos and Layout - Michael Bula

MFT contact
Postal -
PO Box 476, Carlton South, Vic, 3053
Physical -
“Princes Hill Gallery”
213 Canning Street, Carlton, Vic, 3053

Website www.mftinc.org
Telephone 03 9349 2250
Fax 03 9347 1741
E-mail Please click here to email MFT