At the Bérigny quay in Dieppe (76), Kelly Rivière presents “La vie rêvée”. A solo act to evoke the life of a showbiz freelancer. With tenderness and humor, the two ingredients that fed her first show and great success, “An Irish Story.” Between dream and reality, a meeting with a talented actress.
“Dream an impossible dream, burn with a possible fever, follow your star, no matter the odds and time? The quest of the great Jacques, Brel indeed, seems to currently resemble that of Kelly Rivière!” A woman with dreams in her head but despite public recognition, seems to always have doubts. “A youthful legacy, probably,” admits the actress with good humor, on the eve of a new artistic season.
“It has to work this time, otherwise I will stop, I often said to myself! The one who dreamed of being a dancer realized, as a child, that she would never shine in a big ballet corps.” Failure is not easy, the essential is to dare to dream always, never give up on your dreams, that is the challenge.” Sincere words, today Kelly Rivière realizes that she still doesn’t get used to capitalizing on success, the warmth the public shows her, the praise for her talent. A reality that feeds her new solo act built on resonances, echoes of her own life: her doubts about the future, but also her happy discovery of theater, her struggles as an apprentice actress, and the support of a loving grandmother who experienced the pains of public assistance. “It is always difficult to transition from shadow to light,” acknowledges the young woman in “La vie rêvée.”
From the Cours Florent where she learned the trade to her first roles, the path was not always smooth. “I was first a translator, did theatrical animations, then I started writing with ‘An Irish Story’, my first show.” A formidable performance: alone on stage bringing to life no less than twenty-five characters, mastering languages and accents, sometimes talkative, sometimes secretive, always determined in the quest for her mysteriously disappeared grandfather between Ireland and England. The brilliant Franco-Irish woman drew inspiration from a genuine family story to delightfully and convincingly lead us in the search for her roots. A performance of rare quality that she is now performing in Paris at the Scala Theater. Even more impressive, recently the director Philippe Baronnet commissioned her for a play, “Si tu t’en vas,” where she was also one of the actresses: Ms. Ogier, the teacher trying to convince a student to continue his studies. A beautiful script, a stormy exchange between the two characters wavering between emotion and provocation.
Mother of two children in full growth, a busy life for the author-actress who invests intensely in what she undertakes and believes in. She never refuses to lead workshops in schools. Always amazed by what such initiatives provoke, like at Robert Doisneau College in the XXth arrondissement of Paris for example: a better classroom atmosphere, dialogues among students of incredible richness, young people regaining their confidence. “Actors don’t just think about their name at the top of the poster, many of them engage in a wonderful community work.” Hence the misunderstanding, even anger, of Kelly Rivière faced with the budget cuts that weaken the cultural sector. “In addition to disappearing companies, artists and technicians reduced to unemployment, everything that is at stake and not seen by decision-makers is in danger of death: openness to others, cultural awakening, sharing knowledge, support and guidance for young generations toward more creativity.”
Values that the citizen enjoys sharing in Montreuil (93), her adopted city for sixteen years now. Regularly treading the stage of the municipal theater Berthelot, a part of the local collective “Créature” dedicated to contemporary writings. “Performing in Paris is good, investing in my city, working locally is not bad!” From words to actions since the opening of the season, “eager to uphold the public service of culture!” – Yonnel Liègeois
“La vie rêvée, Kelly Rivière: March 26 at 8 pm, March 27 at 2:30 pm and 8 pm. DSN – Dieppe National Stage, 1 Boulevard Bérigny, 76200 Dieppe. March 31: Le Beffroi – Montrouge (92). April 29: Piano’cktail – Bouguenais (44). From May 1 to June 27, Fridays and Saturdays, Theater La Bruyère – Paris.”
An Irish Story, an Irish stroll
Once upon a time, there was an Irish story, “An Irish Story,” that could very well be Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or any other, at a time when men and women fleeing the misery of their existence and their country, try to see if the grass is greener elsewhere! Mixing languages and accents, sometimes talkative, sometimes secretive, always determined in her quest for her mysteriously disappeared grandfather between Ireland and England, Kelly Rivière draws inspiration from a genuine family story. Between joys and frustrations in her research, she delightfully and convincingly leads us in the search for her roots. The beautifully told saga of one generation to another between exile and memory, the revival of a show with infinite tenderness and contained emotion. Between humor and authenticity, alone on stage bringing to life no less than twenty-five characters, an artistic performance of rare quality, not to be missed! – Y.L.
An Irish Story, an Irish story, by and with Kelly Rivière: June 2 at 2:30 pm and 8 pm, June 3 at 8 pm. Dieppe National Stage, 1 Boulevard Bérigny, 76200 Dieppe.
