Babette's Feast
Babette's Feast
The Connelly Theatre, NYC
Book Isak Dinesen
Conceived, Adapted & Directed by Pálína Jónsdóttir
In a world of division and demonization of the unknown “other”, Babette the great artist and culinary female genius of Paris, seeks political asylum in a remote and religious community in the north of Norway. Having lost everything in the Communard Revolution - the Rights of Man, her family, her freedom - she humbly serves her austere and pious masters who saved her from total perdition.
On the 100th birthday of the town Prophet, Babette cooks an extraordinary French feast culminating in a transformative effect on the spirits of the puritanical members of the community, opening their hearts to sensual joy and their minds to the unseen beauty of the world.
With a mind to the turbulent socio-political climate, in this production, we seek to address the unfounded, xenophobic tendency of some conservative communities to believe that immigrants and political refugees seeking asylum will try to infiltrate and take advantage of or cause damage to the existing social, political and economic structures of those communities. As an international, artistic collective, we believe in a globalized, multicultural society and the overarching commitment of these refugees and migrants (who, like Babette, have lost so much) to the prosperity and cultural expansion of the countries they choose as their new homes.
This production seeks to investigate and express how certain strains of religious orthodoxy throughout history have had dividing rather than inclusive effects, subjecting humanity to alienation and a guilt-ridden existence as opposed to comfort and reveling in the unique seeds in human nature that give rise to our natural sensuousness, playfulness and creativity. This production is a celebration of these qualities and a protest against extreme religious dogmas that deprive the Rights of Man. Most importantly, it stands as a celebration of the individuality of the artist whose great art creates the ability to see and discover the divine phenomena of the world.
Creative Crew:
Producer Yue Liu
Co-Producer/Company Manager Hallfríður Tryggvadottir
Production Stage Manager Rachel Zucker*
Dramaturg Ida Biering
Composer Hugi Guðmundsson
Set Designer Margaux Maeght
Costume Designer Kat Jeffrey
Costume Designer Lillian Prentice
Costume Supervisor Filppía Elísdóttir
Lighting Designer Cha See
Sound Designer John Salutz
Assistant Sound Designer Garret Hood
Music Consultant Chatori Shimizu
Video/Projections Designer Elliot Storey
Assistant Stage Managers Alison R. Simone & Patricia Garvey
Cast:
Albert Bendix - Brother Grocer Larsen
Joan Juliet Buck - Storyteller
Matthew Cohn* - Lorens/General Loewenhielm
Oliva Comett - Madame Loewenhielm
Sanam Erfani - Babette
Cody Eugene - Brother Alf / The Red Haired Devil
Hannah Marie Fonder* - Philippa
Amanda Lee Hawkins - Sister Solveg
Gregory Hermann - Brother Jens Postman
Macy Idzakovich - Sister Madama Oppergaarden
Douglas Jabara* - Achille Papin
Carla Kissane - Sister Marie
Jack Mainsbridge - Skipper Halvorsen
Joe Muzikar* - The Dean
Daniel Quintana - Brother Kurt
Ariane Malia Reinhart* - Martine
Steve Shoup* - Brother Erik Parish Clerk
Photos Carol Rosegg
“This is a beautiful adaptation,
which captures the heart of Dinesen’s story and skillfully transforms it into a live event.”
“Pálína, creator, magician.
The show has a lot of poetry. Bravissimo!”
“The production was nothing short of magnificent.”
“A gorgeous production.
I wept my heart out.”
“The show was fantastic.
It was so ambitious, and every bit paid off. Beautifully theatrical and Brechtian.”
“What a beautiful, really gorgeous production. The stage craft was masterful. Such specificity and intelligence.”
OTHER DIRECTORIAL WORK:
