THE BELLE OF AMHERST
by William Luce
a multi-award-winning play
about Emily Dickinson
featuring Renée Bucciarelli*
with pianist Dave Clothier
Was last performed Feb. 19 – March 1, 2015 featuring talk-backs with Dickinson scholars Lynn Szabo & Judith Scholes at
Roedde House Museum in Vancouver, British Columbia. Facebook: Emily Dickinson at Roedde House
“Step into the parlour for tea and town gossip with the brilliant, witty, and enigmatic 19th century poet Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst. This multi-award-winning one-woman play based on the reclusive genius’ writings and poetry features actor Renée Bucciarelli, whose work has enjoyed past praise from The New York Times.
The Roedde House Museum, a special piece of local history that was home to Vancouver’s first bookbinder, provided an ideal period setting for Emily Dickinson’s seemingly fathomless exploration of words, of a vibrantly-lived inner life, and of love. Audience members of this intimate performance found themselves transported back to an elegant time, with live piano music from Miss Dickinson’s own playbook, and tea served in china cups, offered with Emily Dickinson’s famous ‘black cake’.
Emily Dickinson has inspired countless plays, novels, children’s books, contemporary poems, dances, performances, and artworks, as well as over 1,600 musical compositions, a Simon & Garfunkel song and, more recently, a chart-topping rock album by Italian singer/supermodel (and former French First Lady) Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. Of Miss Dickinson’s boundless ability “to have made all things new” renown literary critic Harold Bloom has pronounced “The Myth”–as she was called in her time–an equal to Shakespeare.
“Solo performer Renée Bucciarelli shines…deftly captures Emily’s mischievous spirit…” — Georgia Straight
“A poignant portrait of a self-confessed social maverick…The indefatigable Renée Bucciarelli will reward your assiduity with a compelling insight into the life of this recondite and mysterious woman.”— Review Vancouver
“A superb job of transforming this legendary literary figure into flesh and feeling. …Off-kilter and earnest…Bucciarelli owns her muse’s eccentricities with every restless motion.”–Daily Hive
New York Daily News on The Belle of Amherst: “Arresting, riveting…An overwhelming, meticulous adventure full of passion and poetry and heart.”
Vancity Buzz’s “8 Hottest Arts Shows in Vancouver This Month”
More pictures and nice things people said on Facebook: Emily Dickinson at Roedde House.
Past performances in the Vancouver, British Columbia area include with City Stage New West, Presentation House Theatre, Christ Church Cathedral, Hycroft Manor, and as a benefit for P.A.L. Vancouver. In New Hampshire: The Colonial Theatre (at the historic Mulburn Inn), the Tillotson Center, and as a special event in memory of local poet and artist Viola Sutton, benefiting the Great North Woods Arts Center. Special thanks to Deborah Wright Houston, Melissa Haller, and Sean Allan for contributions to direction.
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- “The Soul selects her own Society–/Then–shuts the door…” (Kyle Gherman photo)
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- “We must be careful what we say. No bird resumes its egg.” (Kyle Gherman photo)
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- “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”
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- “The neighbors can’t figure me out…So, I give them something to talk about!”
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- “Wild nights–Wild nights! Were I with thee…”
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- “I dwell in Possibility–”
*Renée Bucciarelli appears with the permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. She is currently the Producing Artistic Director of City Stage New West, and Director/Developer of The Shakespeare Playground.