The Mysteries of Paris

Written by Normandy Sherwood and directed by Dylan Latimer, The Mysteries of Paris is a guttersnipe melodrama adapted from Eugene Sue’s 1842 serialized novel. The story follows the exploits of the unlucky Goualeuse, the mysterious Rudolph, and the true-hearted slasher as they try to fend off villains at every turn. Between salty sailor dancing and ornate puppet pageantry, audiences learn the answers to these pressing questions: What is contained in a bag of mystery? Who are the young girl’s real parents? How could a man escape from a sealed cavern? Where is that voice coming from?

Some have said The Mysteries of Paris inspired the 1848 revolution, others (Karl Marx) have said it is the worst kind of bourgeois sentimental trash. Sherwood isn’t ashamed to say that she likes it for all the colorful cuss words and endless plot-hatching.

The show is preceded by “Dances of Depravity,” a dancing lexicon of murderous movements and lustful acts performed by Magin Schantz.

The Mysteries of Paris is performed by Jenny Seastone Stern, Edgar Oliver and Alex Colwell. Set and lighting design are by Stephan von Muehlen, with music by Lumberhum.

Normandy Sherwood is a writer, performer and costume maker. She is a member of the National Theater of the United States of America. Her own plays and dances have been presented in New York in the Ontological-Hysteric Incubator, Galapagos, Tonic and chashama. As an actress she has appeared in movies by Hal Hartley and in plays by The NTUSA. As a costumer she has worked on productions by Ami Goodheart, Young Jean Lee and The Flea Theatre. She is pursuing an MFA in playwriting with Mac Wellman at Brooklyn College.

Presented as part of the Ontological-Hysteric Theatre Incubator Summer Series #2