AFTV 2024 Cultural PL : Marcel Pagnol et la Provence

On Saturday 9 November, 20 AFTV members and friends gathered to celebrate the region of Provence and one of its most illustrious children, Marcel Pagnol. 

We were hoping for the Provençal heat and sin, the cicadas' sound and the eucalypt scent to be au rendez-vous, not an unreasonable expectation for a Victorian November day. Melbourne, however, was intent on giving us a typical 'four-seasons-on-one-day' experience. Fine! We had our own sun, warmth, scent and sounds, through our program. Everyone enjoyed:

• A morning of workshop around 'how to approach a region (namely La Provence) through LES CINQ SENS
• A PIQUE-NIQUE PROVENÇAL
• A wonderful solo performance of LA GLOIRE DE MON PÈRE (Pagnol) 

ABOUT LA GLOIRE DE MON PÈRE

This is the first novel of Pagnol's childhood memories trilogy (la gloire de mon père, Le chateau de ma mère and Le temps des secrets). Do yourself a favour and re-read these classics.

Antoine Séguin (L'Accompagnie) adapted the trilogy for the stage, and has been touring France (including the renowned Festival d'Avignon) with his three solo performances. He was kind enough to treat us with his amazing performance of 'La gloire de mon père'. Everyone in the audience found the performance extraordinary, fell in love with le petit Marcel, and could have stayed for the follow-up stories. Maybe Antoine will come back next year, for an organised tour this time?

Thanks to all participants, who helped bring to ife this workshop day; and in particular to Gretchen Bennet, without whom none of this could have happened.

And of course warm thanks to Pagnol, whose words said it all so well : ...ce qu'il disaient ne m'intéressait pas. Ce que je guettais, c'était les mots: car j'avais la passion des mots; en secret, sur un petit carnet, j'en faisais une collection comme d'autres font pour les timbres. J'adorais grenade, fumée, bourru, vermoulu et surtout manivelle :  et je me les répétais souvent, quand j'étais seul, pour le plaisir de les entendre : "damasquiné, florilège, filigrane, archiépiscopal, plénipotentiaire, anticonstituonnellement". Le mot le plus long de la langue française. (La gloire de mon père)

Isabelle Mangeot-Hewison

Participants' feedback:

• Un grand merci pour la journée Marcel Pagnol, le joli PPT d'Isabelle et la performance d'Antoine de très haut niveau. Merci pour la bonne salade niçoise vinaigrette, et la délicieuse ratatouille.
• The performance by Antoine was the best solo performance I have ever seen and thoroughly recommend another performance, perhaps at the 2025 Conference.
• If the presentation offered the opportunity to do a similar session on another region using the same formula of basing the study on the 5 senses. I would gladly attend.
• Firstly, thank you...it was a wonderful day. Antoine's performance was wonderful. I plan on using some of the material for a short unit with my advanced class.