The director of a keenly-awaited new play in Brussels says its “eternal truths” are “still the same today” as they were four decades ago.
Robert Chevara is the director of “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” which will be performed in Brussels next month.
It is produced by The Bridge Theatre, Brussels’ professional English-language production company and runs for three weeks in June.
Described as an “intimate love story” it promises to captivate audiences with what the director calls “its raw emotion and timeless themes.”
Chevara is a highly acclaimed Berlin-based director who is returning to work with The Bridge Theatre for the second time, having directed Vincent River by Phillip Ridley in 2021.
Speaking about his vision for the play, he told this website, “I want everyone to feel they go through the journey of love, fighting, disperse and humour with them (the characters) and come out at the other end falling in love with them both.”
On the relationship between the two characters, he said, “They’re two waring spirits who suddenly focus on one another and they realize that the love that they could have, or that we feel they should have together, is possible.
“Johnny inspires Frankie and I think that gives her the confidence to grow and they both bloom right in front of us.”
He was also asked about the relevance of the play which was written back in the 1980s. On this, he noted, “The eternal truths in it are still the same today as they were 40 years ago.”
He adds, “It’s like saying is Shakespeare still relevant? We talk about love, loneliness, isolation in society, and I think those things have not changed, even in our era of texting, mobile phones and emails. I think, in fact, some of the isolation has gotten worse, and especially after lockdown this is a very interesting piece to do about two people connecting together.”
The play was written by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally in 1987 and is a comedy following the tender journey of two “lonely souls”, Frankie and Johnny, a diner waitress and a short order cook, who meet for a night of fiery passion, expecting a return to loneliness.
But as desire turns into the possibility of love, they realise that true connection means being unafraid to allow themselves to be seen for who they really are. Set against the backdrop of Debussy’s hauntingly beautiful “Clair de Lune,” the play seeks to explore the complexities of human connection, love, and vulnerability.
A Bridge Theatre spokesman said, “As with all its productions, the intention behind producing and showcasing Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune is to shine a light on a specific socially-relevant topic, in this case the importance of human connection. In order to make the link between what happens on stage and our everyday lives, several performances will also feature post-show talks with selected experts and thought leaders exploring the play’s themes from different angles.”
It stars Debra Baker in the role of Frankie and Alan Turkington in the role of Johnny.
The two starring actors have built up quite a career.
Debra Baker’s TV credits include Supacell (Netflix), It’s A Sin (Ch4), King Gary (BBC), The Emily Atack Show (ITV), Holby City (BBC1), Home (Ch4), and more. Her theatre credits include Orlando (Garrick Theatre, West End), This Might Not Be It (Bush Theatre), Glacier (Old Fire Station), SAD (Omnibus Theatre, Clapham), The Witchfinder’s Sister (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch), among others.
Alan Turkington’s TV credits include Dead Hot (Amazon Prime Video), Heartstopper (Netflix), AIDS: The Unheard Tapes (BBC), Gangs of London (Sky), Hollyoaks (Ch4), among others. His theatre credits includes Antony & Cleopatra (National Theatre), Hamlet (Donmar at Wyndham’s Theatre, Elsinore Castle and Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway), The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale and Pericles (Royal Shakespeare Company).
The mission of The Bridge Theatre is to connect the people of Brussels via the experience of culture, through a language that is spoken on a daily basis by many people in the city. The last language barometer conducted in 2018 by BRIO – Brussels’ Centre for Information, Documentation and Research – said that English is the second most common language in the Brussels-Capital Region, spoken by 35% of the city residents. BRIO’s new research is expected to be published later this month.
For this production, the theatre company has partnered with RESET, a multifaceted event venue located in the city centre of Brussels.
Info:
RESET, rue du Ligne 8, 1000 Brussels
6 June – 22 June
Language: English
Recommended for those aged 15 and over
Tickets are available via https://thebridge.brussels/frankie-and-johnny.
