---

"Gouverneurs de la Rosée" Community Theatre

Jean-Claude Eugène: Actor, Singer, Director

Raoul Peck: Lumumba

Automne Tropical: A Tropical Night in October

Haiti and Cuba: Bannzil Kiba Kreyòl: An Enriching Cultural Experience

The Bridge
from Haiti to Japan

Théatre Mapou:
Two for Two with Antigone

The building of a community is a slow process, but with every stride the bond gets stronger and the pride gets deeper. With every success, the community is elevated to a higher plane. Théatre Mapou, a theatrical group based in the Washington DC area, had the second successful play presentation with “Antigone.”

In 1953, Félix Morisseau-Leroy introduced Antigone in Haiti, an adaptation of a Greek play by Sophocles, written thousands of years before. The pl;ay tells the story of Antigone, who defies the orders of Roi Créon about the burial of her brother Polyneices. Morisseau’s version was the first serious play to be written and presented in kreyòl. Théatre Mapou brought the story to life for the first time in the Washington DC area.

Patrick Eustache, who last played Gervilien in Theatre Mapou’s presentation of “Gouverneurs de la Rosée,” this time played the role of director, as well as make-up artist. Patrick studied drama at the Brooklyn Muse “under the accomplished stage actor/director Earl Waltower.” He has directed and produced many community plays with Haitian youngsters in New York City. The stage direction was well thought out, including the lighting that created mood, where stage props were not possible.

On a cloudy after in May, Théatre Mapou showed off the result of their hard work and dedication. The group amazed the crowd with their staging. Particularly notable were Solange Nestor and Leon Boursiquot. Solange who played Delira in Gouverneurs de la Rosée, this time played Ismène with great confidence and depth. Leon, who had one of the most important roles as Roi Créon, delivered a forceful performance as the antagonist ruler.

The whole group showed tremendous confidence on stage and delivered a solid performance all around. Arnold Joseph was wonderfully funny as Filo, one of the soldiers of Roi Creon. The beautiful Myrnette Joachim was as strong as usual with the leading role of Antigone. Myrnette delivered the memorable performance as the love interest in La Rosee. This time she was as strong and even more confortable on stage. Other notables, such as Jean-Claude Eugene, Gertha Eugene as Marraine, Sterne Nestor as the old Tiresias and Patrice Saint Germain as Hemon.

Morisseau translated a complex masterpiece and in turn created a masterpiece of his own, in kréyol. Théatre Mapou, made up of some dedicated and culture conscience people in the community, has added another thread to the complex and delicate web nesting that is called pride.

© EchodHaiti.com, 07/2003