The Queens by Normand Chaurette, translated by Linda Gaboriau

The Queens (English version of Les reines) is a full-length drama by Normand Chaurette, translated by Linda Gaboriau. Inspired by Shakespeare's Richard III, The Queens tells the story of six ruthless and passionate royal women, all vying for a chance at power. Set just prior to Richard III's ascent to the throne, the women struggle against the ties of blood, marriage and political circumstance, as they attempt to secure their position in the new monarchy.

The Queens is an evocative fantasy drama that depicts the classic struggle for power and stature as six queens vie for the throne. It is London, 1483. From the aged Duchess of York, who is 99 years old, to young Lady Anne, who must marry Richard III in order to reign, to the Duchess' daughter Anne Dexter who has no hands, The Queens traces the shifting passions and ambitions of the six women drawn from Shakespeare's theatre and portrayed here in the timelessness of their quest which, like that of all queens, is both visceral and political. These noble women are trapped in a world they vie to control, where nothing goes quite as it should. As this mysteriously beautiful story unfolds in corridors and hallways, the women find themselves caught in the complex dance of life, grappling with selfish aims, painful losses and the blinding desire for the crown. Each of the characters carries her own unique set of secrets, and we are left with questions and impressions that linger in the imagination.

Talonbooks

Concordia UniversityStudent Production, La Cazalet, Concordia University, Montreal, QC. 2006.

Director

Written by Normand Chaurette
Translated by Linda Gaboriau
Directed by Emma Tibaldo
Production designed and acted by Concordia University Theatre Department graduating class

Concordia University Theatre Department