Frédéric BLANCHETTE

Frédéric Blanchette is a playwright, actor and director. He has written about fifteen plays and is co-founder of the Théâtre ni plus ni moins, a company for which he translated and directed the first productions of plays by David Mamet, David Ives and John-Patrick Shanley. He has translated plays by Cindy-Lou Johnson, Donald Margulies, and Eric Bogosian. Frédéric Blanchette also writes for Just For Laughs Festival Galas. As an actor he was in the cast of Trick or Treat by Jean Marc Dalpé, Chacun sa vérité by Pirandello, and in Kean by Alexandre Dumas at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde. On television, he played in sitcoms such as Emma, Catherine and Fred-Dy. Frédéric Blanchette's play Le périmètre received a Masque as 'Best Original Play'. It is available in English and German. Its German translation by Frank Heibert Die Siecherheitsabstand was presented at the stadtheater in Bern, Switzerland. Two of Frédéric Blanchette's short plays from Pour faire une histoire courte were also produced in London (UK) in their English translation by Christopher Campbell. – 2009-01-19

 
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Titles in alphabetical order
Gilles (excerpt from "Pour faire une histoire courte") Match Play (excerpt from "Pour faire une histoire courte...") Restraint
 
Restraint
  English translation by Christopher Campbell.
  Original title: Le périmètre (Dramaturges Éditeurs, 2006).
Running time
  1 hour 30
Cast
  1 W, 2 M  More about the cast   More about the the suggested set
Synopsis
  “Restraint” is a sharp and glittering comedy of modern manners. David and Catherine are negotiating the aftermath of their split; how to behave with your ex; how to share your child; how to get on with your life. It’s very Montreal. It’s very London, New York or Paris. Whose side are you on?
Excerpt
  « CATHERINE : He told me to do what I thought was for the best. / DAVID : "…do what you think's for the best…" Oh wow! That's really when you appreciate…y'know…these guys, they seem to peer right down into the human soul, it's staggering… / CATHERINE : All right. / DAVID : "Do what you think is for the best." What? Twenty-three, twenty-four years study this bloke…? / CATHERINE : Just… / DAVID : I just humbly bow down in the face of such awesome… / CATHERINE : All right! »
Other translations
  Also available in German, Flemish

 
Gilles (excerpt from "Pour faire une histoire courte")
  English translation by Christopher Campbell.
  Original title: (Extrait de) Pour faire une histoire courte...
one of six short plays of Pour faire une histoire courte… / [lit. To Make a Long Story Short]
Running time
  20 minutes
Cast
  1 W, 3 M  More about the cast   More about the the suggested set
Synopsis
  An intimate meeting highlighted by a surprising declaration. He’s the perfect man, just what everyone’s looking for. That’s why she can’t stand him…”
Excerpt
  « SARAH : I thought the plan was to go out for dinner as a couple. / RICHARD : Yes, that was the initial plan, you’re absolutely right, but, as you see, the plan has changed because Gilles rang me. And I thought, as it was ages since we’d seen him… / SARAH : We saw him the day before yesterday. / RICHARD : Oh yeah. But I know how much you like Gilles and so I thought… / SARAH : I don’t like Gilles. / pause / RICHARD : Yes, but I know you told me you wanted to try to start liking Gilles, and so I thought… / SARAH : I never said that. »

 
Match Play (excerpt from "Pour faire une histoire courte...")
  English translation by Christopher Campbell.
  Original title: Dans un stade
First production
  In "Miniaturists 8", Arcola Theatre London, England, 1st July 2007
Running time
  20 minutes
Cast
  1 W, 2 M  More about the cast   More about the the suggested set
Synopsis
  A national sport with surprising rules. A couple is attending a very important match. Of course she doesn't know the rules and he has to explain...
Excerpt
  « PETER ROCKWELL : The game was first played around 1500BC and, you know, people from all over the world have always kept this tradition alive. / SIMON : Yes. / PETER ROCKWELL : We like to keep things, you know… / SIMON : We know. / PETER ROCKWELL : As they’ve always been, you know? / SIMON : Absolutely. / PETER ROCKWELL, pause : Anyway, thanks. / SIMON : Sorry for the disturbance. / PETER ROCKWELL : No problem. You guys enjoy the game now. »

 
PLAYS AVAILABLE AT CEAD (Some notes in French may appear below)
  Julie Provencher [2003]
Le périmètre [2003] (Dramaturges Éditeurs, 2006)
Soirée [2003]
Pour faire une histoire courte... Courtes pièces de Frédéric Blanchette [2002]
 
PLAYS NOT YET TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH (Running time: 1 hour and more. Written and produced in French since 2000. Some notes in French may appear below)
  Pour faire une histoire courte... Courtes pièces de Frédéric Blanchette [2002]
First production in French: Théâtre ni plus ni moins, October 2002
Running time: 2 hours
Cast: 8 W 17 M
A perfect man desperately examined for a flaw. A mysterious Chinese bulb stirring up ill-feelings in a new couple. A national sport with surprising rules (Available in English, see Match Play). An FM radio host with unsuspected passions. An intimate meeting highlighted by a surprising declaration (Available in English, see gilles). A musical comedy producer with extravagant ambitions. Premises to troubled universes where everyone’s identity is constantly doubted.