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Lifedream
Four vastly different characters illustrate various ways of life and elements of existence in the 14 tableaux in this collection. As Solange, Thomas, Gabrielle, and Paul move through dream spaces and real-world settings—including hospitals, bars, galleries, and classrooms—they confront a range of topics as far-reaching as money, marriage, the book of Psalms, and the Acadian Expulsion.
74 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
About the author
Herménégilde Chiasson
62 books1 followerHerménégilde Chiasson is one of Canada's most accomplished writer-artists. He is the author of more than 20 books of poetry, over 30 plays, and several collections of essays. A multi-disciplinary artist, he has received numerous awards for his work, including the Governor General’s Award for poetry, the Molson Prize, le prix France-Acadie, le Grand prix de la francophonie canadienne, the prestigious Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and the Prix littéraire Antonine-Maillet-Acadie Vie. From 2003 to 2009, he served as Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.
Jo-Anne Elder has translated many of Chiasson’s works of poetry, including Beatitudes and Conversations and, in collaboration with Fred Cogswell, Climates. She and Fred Cogswell also edited and translated Unfinished Dreams: Contemporary Poetry of Acadie.
Jo-Anne Elder has translated many of Chiasson’s works of poetry, including Beatitudes and Conversations and, in collaboration with Fred Cogswell, Climates. She and Fred Cogswell also edited and translated Unfinished Dreams: Contemporary Poetry of Acadie.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 17, 2020
I read this. I have not seen it produced, performed, but... I don't think I need to. I'm not sure I want to. The play reads beautifully. The characters are vivid, vital, dimensional. The story or plot (if we can use those terms) is clear and compelling. The characters relationships within the quartet are equally clear and compelling whether the relationship is more intense or more casual. It's more precise to say less intense rather than casual. No relation, interaction is strictly casual or insignificant.
One is initially put off by the dream sequences or descriptions of dreams in the first scene. Oh, Lord is it THAT kind of play? It isn't and the dreams' significance, relationship to the plot are rapidly revealed.
The pace is rapid. The text spare but not starved. The dialogue is both realistic and indicative of thoughtful, philosophical, intelligent people making what becomes apparent as valiant, even last-stand efforts to define and defend their evolved and fundamental senses of self. Ultimately it is a play about separation rather than (re)union, but where it might leave absence, leaves us bereft it manages to leave us hopeful.
It is a play that makes one think, consider, deliberate, ponder but not in a struggle to understand or interpret. It is because the play opens windows, views that one wants to consider whether looking deeper into its characters or into oneself.
It is a pleasure to recommend this play as a reading experience and a delight to give it the highest rating Goodreads allows. 5 stars. (And 5 more. And 5 more.)
One is initially put off by the dream sequences or descriptions of dreams in the first scene. Oh, Lord is it THAT kind of play? It isn't and the dreams' significance, relationship to the plot are rapidly revealed.
The pace is rapid. The text spare but not starved. The dialogue is both realistic and indicative of thoughtful, philosophical, intelligent people making what becomes apparent as valiant, even last-stand efforts to define and defend their evolved and fundamental senses of self. Ultimately it is a play about separation rather than (re)union, but where it might leave absence, leaves us bereft it manages to leave us hopeful.
It is a play that makes one think, consider, deliberate, ponder but not in a struggle to understand or interpret. It is because the play opens windows, views that one wants to consider whether looking deeper into its characters or into oneself.
It is a pleasure to recommend this play as a reading experience and a delight to give it the highest rating Goodreads allows. 5 stars. (And 5 more. And 5 more.)
Displaying 1 of 1 review