At the theater La Bruyère (75), Kelly Rivière present La vie rêvée. A “alone on stage” to evoke the life of an intermittent entertainer… With tenderness and humor, the two ingredients which nourished An Irish Story (au théâtre Firmin Gémier d’Antony)his first show and tremendous success. Between dream and reality, meeting a talented actress.
“Dreaming an impossible dream, burning with a possible fever… Follow your star, regardless of the odds and the weather? Yesterday’s quest for the great Jacques, Brel of course, now seems to be very similar to that of Kelly Rivière! A woman, a head full of dreams but who, despite the public’s recognition, seems to constantly cultivate doubt… “A legacy of youth, probably”, admits the actress with good nature, relaxed on the eve of the big departure for a new artistic season.
“It has to work this time, otherwise I’ll stop,†I often told myself!†The one who dreamed of being a dancer will realize, while still a child, that she will never shine, star, in a great ballet corps…Failure is not easy, the main thing remains: daring to dream again and again, never giving up on your dreams, that is the challenge“. Sincere words, today Kelly Rivière notes that she still does not get used to capitalizing on success, to the warmth that the public shows her, to the critical praise given to her talent. A reality which nourishes her new “alone on stage” built on resonances, echoes of her own life: her doubts about the future but also her happy discovery of theater, her struggles as an apprentice actress but also the support of a loving grandmother who experienced the pain of Public Assistance… “It is always difficult to move from the shadows to the light,” admits the young woman. La vie rêvée.
Brown and frozen
At the La Bruyère theater, everything begins with the end: bursts of applause, galvanizing music, repeated frilly greetings, bouquet of flowers, comforting messages from grandma… Not to the taste of Kelly Ruisseau’s mother who strongly doubts her daughter’s abilities to embrace an artistic career! After an aborted project as a prima ballerina, too muscular – not thin enough, you have to live well and fill the fridge for the little family! Lousy fees, risky castings, it’s not really the dream life… On stage, Kelly, the real one, not only knows how to do everything, sing – dance – play – imitate, but in addition she tells us everything about her life as an artist, from yesterday to today. With humor, tenderness and talent, lending his voice to all members of the family as well as to fleeting stage partners. Pleasant and convincing, the audience won over: in the end, let it be said, the applause is authentic and deserved!
From Cours Florent where she learned the trade to her first roles, the path was not always a long, quiet river. “I was first a translator, I did theatrical animations, finally I started writing with An Irish Storymon premier spectacle HAS”. Formidable: alone on stage to bring to life no less than twenty-five characters, mixing languages and playing accents, sometimes voluble sometimes secret, always voluntary in her quest for the grandfather who mysteriously disappeared between Ireland and England! The brilliant Franco-Irish woman was inspired by an authentic family story to lead us with delight and conviction in the quest for her roots. A performance of rare quality that she brings back to Paris on the stages of the Théâtre de la Scala. Even stronger, recently the director Philippe Baronnet ordered a play from him, If you go away, of which she was also one of the performers: Mme Ogier, the teacher who tries to convince a student to continue his studies! Beautiful writing, a heated exchange between the two protagonists which oscillates between emotion and provocation.
Mother of two growing children, a busy life for the author-performer who invests herself intensely in what she does, in what she believes. Who never refuses to lead workshops in schools. Always amazed to see what such initiatives cause, at the Robert Doisneau college in the 20th arrondissement of Paris for example: a better classroom atmosphere, incredibly rich dialogues between students, young people who regain self-confidence…Actors don’t just think about their name at the top of the bill, many of them engage in tremendous local work“. Hence Kelly Rivière’s incomprehension, even anger, at the budget cuts that are weakening the cultural sector. “In addition to disappearing companies, artists and technicians reduced to unemployment, it’s everything that’s at stake and that decision-makers don’t see who finds themselves in mortal danger: openness to others, cultural awakening, sharing of knowledge, support and accompaniment of young generations towards ever greater creativity.”
Values that the citizen finds pleasure in sharing in Montreuil (93), her adopted city for sixteen years now… Regularly treading the stage of the municipal theater Berthelotstakeholder in the local collective Créature dedicated to contemporary writings. “Playing in Paris is good, getting involved in my city, working locally is not bad!†From words to action from the opening of the season, “concerned to carry the public service of culture loud and clear!” Yonnel Liégeois
La vie rªvée, Kelly Rivière : until 06/27, Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Theater La Bruyere5 rue La Bruyère, 75009 Paris (Tel.: 01.48.74.76.99).
An Irish story, an Irish stroll
Once upon a time… an Irish story, An irish storywhich could very well be Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or other, at a time when men and women, fleeing the misery of their existence and their country, are trying to go elsewhere and see if the valley is greener! Mixing languages and playing accents, sometimes talkative, sometimes secretive, always determined in her quest for the grandfather who mysteriously disappeared between Ireland and England, Kelly Rivière is inspired by an authentic family story. Between joys and frustrations in the course of her research, she leads us with delight and conviction in the quest for her roots. The saga beautifully told from one generation to the next between exile and memory, the resumption of a show of infinite tenderness and restrained emotion. Between humor and authenticity, alone on stage to bring to life no less than twenty-five characters, an artistic performance of rare quality, definitely not to be missed! YL
An Irish Story, an Irish story, by and with Kelly Rivière: 06/11, 8:30 p.m. Théâtre Firmin Gémier, 13 rue Maurice Labrousse, 92160 Antony ( Tél. : 01.41.87.20.84).
