THE EXCHANGE
This project started with a translation of L'Echange de Paul Claudel by Lauren Dubowsi in collabaration with myself and an adaptation of Suli Holum for the stage. Suli and I were just invited to The Orchard Project Residency in Hunter, NY:
http://www.exchangenyc.org/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=100121
We had an amazing week of discoveries and real collaboration with James Sugg, Jorge Cousineau, Mikaal Sulaiman and Coralie and Hugo!!!!
Thanks to Ari and all the Exchange crew. The Orchard Project is an amazing place to work, meet artists and try new things.
For now a little taste!
LOUIS LAINE
You see? We don’t hold on to the earth anymore. We’re angels! We only hold on to each other.
MARTHE
Be careful not to let go.
LOUIS LAINE
You don’t think so? It feels good like that. Between husband and wife.
MARTHE
I don’t see you, but I hold you as much as I can; ah! I understood it well right away that I had to hold you as much as I could, my little one, too bad for you if you let go!
It’s funny that we’re shipped up like this together, back to back, opposite one from the other like dancers
Turning around each other without ever being completely able to see each other’s faces!
LOUIS LAINE
It’s the heart that’s important!
(He abruptly twists the cords of the swing, so that they are each placed in the opposite direction)
MARTHE
Calm down, you’re hurting me!
Return to the first position.
LOUIS LAINE
I like to hurt you.
MARTHE
Hurt me! A “job”! It’s job they say here? I got stuck in this job with you, you redskin!
LOUIS LAINE
You said it!
MARTHE
How to let you go! you’d break right away!
And me, I love you, Laine! I don’t want him to be broken, my redskin from the other side of common sense.
I’m sad, Laine! I am jealous, Laine! No, I know, that’s not what I’m supposed to say, don’t get angry!
I hurt from you! It’s stupid to hurt from someone!
What is he doing now, the idiot, while he’s all alone? what did he invent? what shape will I find him in? what farce will he plan?
I wonder who it is who auctioned him to me for me to take care of, this hanged man unhung?
LOUIS LAINE
I wonder too. And though there is no doubt that we were made for each other. Back to back!
You think I like to be made for each other that much? I’m twenty years old! Everyone is sure that I am twenty. At twenty, it’s not so funny to be made for each other.
MARTHE
Funny or not.
Paul Claudel
