Duende Productions Presents
The NYC premiere of
Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight
by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan
Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight
by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan
Production Description:
Emilie is one of HIStory’s most undertold stories.
One of the first female physicists, the 18th century Marquise du Châtelet died from complications in childbirth in the midst of disproving Newton’s Laws of Physics. Her work became the basis for Einstein’s theory of relativity, but her long-time lover Voltaire, who wrote with, for, and about her, remained more noted for her work than she did until very recently.
Lauren Gundersen’s play powerfully tells Emilie’s story with humor and love, putting her story back in her own voice and restoring the credit for the work that became the foundation for so many others.
Emilie is one of HIStory’s most undertold stories.
One of the first female physicists, the 18th century Marquise du Châtelet died from complications in childbirth in the midst of disproving Newton’s Laws of Physics. Her work became the basis for Einstein’s theory of relativity, but her long-time lover Voltaire, who wrote with, for, and about her, remained more noted for her work than she did until very recently.
Lauren Gundersen’s play powerfully tells Emilie’s story with humor and love, putting her story back in her own voice and restoring the credit for the work that became the foundation for so many others.
Praise for Emilie
Alix Cohen - Women Around Town
Jon Sobel - Blog Critics
Betsyann Faiella - Front Row Center
Eva Heinemann - Hi! Drama - FB
- “Christina Beam’s costume design is both correct and enchanting. Wigs are perfect.”
- “Sarah White’s pretty set is faux period with some decorative silkscreen and works well to straddle both history and stylization.”
- “Erika Vetter shines in the genre. Her enthusiastic, wide-eyed persona, coltish physicality, and amusing sounds – giggles and at one point an operatic soprano orgasm – are delightful.”
- "Nigel Gore is a find, utterly delicious in the role of Voltaire. Mercurial in his character’s approach, every tack he takes feels authentic. Cupidity, mischief, appreciation, stubbornness, imagination, and calculation all seem of a piece to the actor’s portrayal."
- “There are humorous bits of physical comedy…consummately directed by MacGowan and executed to perfection by Duende’s outstanding cast of five.”
- "Nigel Gore turns in a stellar portrayal of Voltaire. His timing is impeccable in both his vocal delivery and his funny falls and salacious mounts.”
- “Zaven Ovian as the “Gentleman,” manifesting his distinctive characterizations of Emilie’s formal but accepting husband, poetic lover, and other incidental men, and his mastery of the physical comedy that punctuates the show.
- “A top-notch artistic design transports us to the era of the French Enlightenment”
- "Emilie provides an illuminating and engaging evening that will have you laughing and leave you contemplating the force vive."
Jon Sobel - Blog Critics
- “...thoughtful and highly entertaining production”
Betsyann Faiella - Front Row Center
- "The talent in the show is top tier."
- "Amy Michelle as Emilie is perfection as is Nigel Gore as Voltaire (so damn funny)."
- "Bonnie Black delivers compelling performances as both the marquise’s mother, a woman of mean understanding, and the meddlesome Madam Graffigny, a not entirely welcome guest at the marquise’s family estate."
- "Sarah White’s handsome set."
Eva Heinemann - Hi! Drama - FB
- "The acting was supreme."
- "This will give you a whole new appreciation of this marvelous woman and calculus."
Additional Press for Emilie
Cast:
Amy Michelle* - Emilie
Nigel Gore* - Voltaire
Bonnie Black* - Madame
Erika Vetter* - Soubrette
Zaven Ovian* - Gentleman
Creative Team:
Lighting Design - Sasha Lysenko
Costume Design - Christina Beam
Scenic Design - Sarah White
Composer - Ian McNally
Assistant to the Producer - Jennifer Cox
Stage Manager - Shana Fereguson
Set Construction - Armando Newbold
Director - Kathy Gail MacGowan
Photographer - Ashley Garrett
PR/Press - Emily Owens
Marketing Manager - Courtney Mentzel
*Denotes member of Actors' Equity.
Location: The Siggy at The Flea
Amy Michelle* - Emilie
Nigel Gore* - Voltaire
Bonnie Black* - Madame
Erika Vetter* - Soubrette
Zaven Ovian* - Gentleman
Creative Team:
Lighting Design - Sasha Lysenko
Costume Design - Christina Beam
Scenic Design - Sarah White
Composer - Ian McNally
Assistant to the Producer - Jennifer Cox
Stage Manager - Shana Fereguson
Set Construction - Armando Newbold
Director - Kathy Gail MacGowan
Photographer - Ashley Garrett
PR/Press - Emily Owens
Marketing Manager - Courtney Mentzel
*Denotes member of Actors' Equity.
Location: The Siggy at The Flea