Information

Show Credits: Music by Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Book by Tom Jones

Description: The joys, fears and loves of the celebrated French writer are at the center of COLETTE COLLAGE. This poignant, life-affirming musical by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, the authors of THE FANTASTICKS and I DO! I DO!, features one of their most sophisticated scores to date.

Act One finds Colette a naïve young bride – and ghostwriter – of an older, highly successful author. Ultimately, his opportunistic, philandering ways force her to assert her independence. In Act Two, an older, wiser Colette – now divorced and successful in her own right – learns to lower her defenses in the arms of a younger man when her newfound happiness is threatened by the ravages of World War II. In good times and bad, we see how her determination to “experience it all” leads Colette to create such world-famous characters as Claudine, Cheri and Gigi.

Charming, witty, bold, sensual and entirely unconventional, this intimate, highly theatrical show captures the essence of one of the most liberated women of all time. Its simple production requirements highlight the talents of a small cast and offer an accomplished actor (or two) the irresistible opportunity to play the legendary author over a period of sixty years.

Insight from the experts Staging Tip: Light, unit set. A desk, a bed, items to suggest a cabaret and other locales. The script suggests the desk be transformable into a bed and other things, but that's not necessary. Two very long braids (false) for the young Colette. Cheri's sensual dance near the top of Act Two is true Colette's vision and to the tone of the show, but doesn't absolutely have to be done in the nude. Try to stick to the script if you can, though. Don't let the set get too heavy; the writing is cinematic. It may be worth it to devise a way to turn the desk into a bed for purposes of streamlining. The two acts are not designed to be performed individually.