IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS

by Nora Louise Syran

Suzanne Valadon "grew up with giants!" She meets Monet painting in a train station, follows Morisot to sketch at the Louvre and impresses Cassatt in a hat shop with her eye for line and color. Determined to be famous, she joins the circus; but after falling from the trapeze, she turns to modeling and becomes the muse for Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and many other painters of the Belle Epoque. Chief among her...

Suzanne Valadon "grew up with giants!" She meets Monet painting in a train station, follows Morisot to sketch at the Louvre and impresses Cassatt in a hat shop with her eye for line and color. Determined to be famous, she joins the circus; but after falling from the trapeze, she turns to modeling and becomes the muse for Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and many other painters of the Belle Epoque. Chief among her friends, cabaret singer Aristide Bruant guides us, with the beautiful songs of Montmartre, through Valadon's quest to become, as Degas said "one of us!" -- an artist.

Email noralouisesyran AT gmail or have a look at https://youtu.be/cjJdR76akEU for the demos/snippets of scenes

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IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS

Recommended by

  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    Art and history and music! It is all here! What a fabulous play, combining the Impressionists with their context and inspiration. In addition to being entertained, you learn things along the way - always a wonderful combination.

    Art and history and music! It is all here! What a fabulous play, combining the Impressionists with their context and inspiration. In addition to being entertained, you learn things along the way - always a wonderful combination.

    ”
  • Peter Fenton: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    [11/1/2024] In IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS, it is so clear through this play how much knowledge and love Nora Louise Syran has for the city of Paris and its rich art and music history. I appreciate Syran's modern approach to interpreting of all the various French Impressionists, packaged in kind of a dream-like vignette style, which I couldn't help but feel was a love letter to Paris itself. Anyone part of a production of this play would learn a lot and have a great experience every step of the way!

    [11/1/2024] In IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS, it is so clear through this play how much knowledge and love Nora Louise Syran has for the city of Paris and its rich art and music history. I appreciate Syran's modern approach to interpreting of all the various French Impressionists, packaged in kind of a dream-like vignette style, which I couldn't help but feel was a love letter to Paris itself. Anyone part of a production of this play would learn a lot and have a great experience every step of the way!

    ”
  • Jennifer O'Grady: IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS by Nora Louise Syran
    “

    Syran’s marvelously theatrical full-length play with music, set in 1890s Paris, explores the revolutionary Impressionism art movement and centers Suzanne Valadon, an artists’ model, muse and eventual artist, who refuses to be “boxed in” merely because she's a woman. Syran brings to life a plethora of fascinating characters including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and many others, as well women painters Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt who struggle for the same opportunities their male contemporaries receive. The play offers flexible casting and provides a unique...

    Syran’s marvelously theatrical full-length play with music, set in 1890s Paris, explores the revolutionary Impressionism art movement and centers Suzanne Valadon, an artists’ model, muse and eventual artist, who refuses to be “boxed in” merely because she's a woman. Syran brings to life a plethora of fascinating characters including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and many others, as well women painters Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt who struggle for the same opportunities their male contemporaries receive. The play offers flexible casting and provides a unique theatrical experience that I would love to see on stage!

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    ”
View all 13 recommendations
Suggested Doubling for 12 Players:

(F) Actor 1:(20-30s): Suzanne Valadon
(F) Actor 2:(30-40s): Model/Perrette, Berthe Morisot
(F) Actor 3:(30s): Laundress/Paulette, Mary Cassatt
(F) Actor 4:(20-30s) Barmaid, Aline Charigot, Jean of the Wood/Model, Laundress, Louisine Elder (age 16), Shopkeeper, Museum Visitor 2, Julie Manet (age 11)
(F) Actor 5:(30s) Model, Madeleine-Shadow, Newspaper Seller, Lydia Cassatt, Marie Bracquemont, Victorine Meurent, Angele, Gossip 1
(F) Actor 6:(40-50s) Nun-Shadow, Madame Margot, Octavie, Mme Cornélie Morisot, Gossip 2, Museum Visitor 1

---------------------
(M) Actor 1: (30s-40s) Aristide Bruant, Organ Grinder, Station Manager, Museum Guard, Art Critic Duranty, Joseph Guichard, Maggiolo
(M) Actor 2: (30s) Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Maurice (teenager)
(M) Actor 3: (40s-50s) Edgar Degas
(M) Actor 4: (30-50s) Gustave Caillebotte, Edouard Manet, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (50s), Paul LHote, Eugène Manet(30s), Guest
(M) Actor 5: (30s) Claude Monet, Monsieur Bracquemont, Charles Ephrussi, Vincent VanGogh
(M) Actor 6: (20s-30s) Monsieur the Charmer, Pierre, Toulouse-Lautrec, Maurice-Shadow (a child)

Casting Notes to consider: Toulouse-Lautrec probably had PYCD; because of brittle bones and after two childhood accidents, his legs did not grow. He was 1.42m or 4'8" tall. He walked with a cane. Suzanne Valadon was only about 5' tall.

Development History

  • Reading, Playwrights Thriving, November 4, 2023
  • Workshop, ASEICA Valbonne, FRANCE -- the current full length is based upon this original one act, 2018