Center Stage Presents ENCOUNTERS

After one year of performances in Paris, the French play « Encounters » (Rencontres) is coming to New York this summer. In this sexy comedy by Constance Fichet, strangers keep bumping into each other in the streets of Paris. The first contact is a little awkward and nothing goes smoothly. But as the couples argue and misunderstand each other, they slowly realize that they have great chemistry! In four witty sketches, the young author and director uses humor and burlesque situations to reveal the dynamics of seduction.

"I was inspired by the spontaneity of Parisian encounters. Here in New York, there are too many codes about what you can do on a first date or second date, etc. In Paris, people still believe in the unexpected," she says.

Fichet has won several awards for her shorts and feature films, including « Mademoiselle » (Jacques award of the best short in 2005) and « Thank You New York » (Silver Lei award at the Honolulu Film Festival in 2009). She is a graduate of the Cours Florent in Paris (Amélie's Audrey Tautou is an alumna) and of the New York Film Academy.

A cast of four francophone actors from France, Switzerland, Quebec and the United States will play these beautiful strangers in four typically Parisian settings: the Parc, the Café, the Metro and the Bridge. They spill their coffee cups, argue about self-help books or about the proper length of a skirt...but romance lurks in every corner.

With Léonard Kocan, Hélène Kuhn, Sofi Lambert, and Richaud Valls. (Bios in the pdf version).

Where ?

Center Stage, NY in Chelsea.
48 W. 21st Street New York, NY

When ?

June 21-July 4. 1 hour 20 minutes. In French with English surtitles.
Monday to Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 6:30pm.

Tickets: www.smarttix.com (212) 868-4444. Between $15 and $25.