La Promise a play by Xavier Durringer; directed by Emmanuelle Chaulet

Production Photos

Published by Les Editions Théatrales, Paris.

A contemporary play exploring the moral, emotional, spiritual, social, ethical and philosophical issues surrounding war.

Featuring actors Caleb Wilson, Kellsy MacGilligan, Sean Demers, Michael Toth and Odelle Bowman.

The story of simple people, villagers, who are enduring a war. What is just? Should one fight for one's country and in the process agree to kill and get bloody hands? Or should one refuse to fight and abandon one's patriotism? What is heroism? How is the fiancé, Zeck, going to be when he returns from the war? Will he still be the same sensible, calm, and tender man he was before he left? Or has he become another killer, a monster? Will he accept the child that his promised bride is carrying when this child is the child from an enemy, a soldier who raped her? Or will he abandon them both?

It is the story of the victim and the tormentor becoming one, in the heart of a man. La Promise also brings magic, poetry and spirituality to the stage.

This show and series of events is supported by a special grant from Etant Donnés, the French-American fund for the Performing Arts of the French Embassy in New York, and by a matching grant from the Maine Humanities Council, and the Maine Arts commission through the New Century Community Program, a statewide cultural initiative funded by the people of Maine. Additionally, local support from Vintage Repertory Company, Peace Action Maine, The World Affairs Council of Maine, The Portland Press Herald and Casco Bay Weekly make these events possible.