Young Cezanne – A Lived Perspective

This play examines the life and relationship of the artists Paul Cezanne (Leslie Gurusinghe) and Marie Fiquet (Dominik Shields). The play is intriguingly set in both 1856 and 2020. The oscillation between the two time periods is well handled as the costumes and set clearly evoke the historical period but could also just as easily be a contemporary scene. The striking similarity between the time frames is continually reiterated throughout the text and is an important basis of the narrative.

The play explores the uncertainty as well as the personal and professional risk involved in finding new and creative expressive forms. Even if the comparisons between the demands of painting in the 19^th century or writing for television in the 21^st century are not always feasible, the idea of making a connection between the two in this way provides a fresh perspective on romantic notions of a bohemian existence.

Contemporary and historical language often separate the two eras and this helps to distinguish them. The play highlights the similarity in the challenges faced by the artists in their creative process: negotiating changing audience tastes, finding novel and innovative perspectives and surrendering (or not) to commercial demands.

Shields and Gurusinghe both provide substantial performances and are generally able to transition between the two historical periods with style and consistency. The performers take some time to warm up to the roles, but both provide moments of emotional intensity that are engaging and moving. Shields also has an air of confidence with the camera that makes her characterisations quite tangible.

While the set itself is in a somewhat confined space the stage is used effectively and the camera captures the nuances of the performance well. The recording uses a standard approach to filming a live performance, being careful to remain faithful to the conventions of the theatre while giving the performers enough close attention to create a sense of physical and psychological proximity with the audience.

The story, and this production, is a charming and elegant way to shift some attention on to the role of Marie in the development of the Cezanne’s style and the importance of recognising female figures often obscured by history.  

Patricia Di Risio