“What does it do to us, Wally, living in an environment where something as massive as the seasons or winter or cold, don't in any way affect us? I mean, we’re animals after all. I mean... what does that mean? I think that means that instead of living under the sun and the moon and the sky and the stars, we're living in a fantasy world of our own making,” Andre (Andre Gregory).
“Yeah, but I mean, I would never give up my electric blanket, Andre. I mean, because New York is cold in the winter. I mean, our apartment is cold! It's a difficult environment. I mean, our life is tough enough as it is. I'm not looking for ways to get rid of a few things that provide relief and comfort. I mean, on the contrary, I'm looking for more comfort because the world is very abrasive. I mean, I'm trying to protect myself because, really, there's these abrasive beatings to be avoided everywhere you look!” Wally (Wallace Shawn).
“But, Wally, don't you see that comfort can be dangerous? I mean, you like to be comfortable and I like to be comfortable too, but comfort can lull you into a dangerous tranquility,” Andre.
A very special event is happening at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, this Sunday 2nd October. It is a one off. A 30 year reunion. Of actor and playwright Wallace Shawn, with actor and director Andre Gregory. The talk is to be a celebration and reminiscence, of their seminal film My Dinner with Andre (1981) that the duo wrote and Louis Malle directed. For all intents and purposes it was a two-hander set in a restaurant, where a couple of estranged colleagues and one-time friends meet up. They then have a conversation, which lasts nearly two hours about topics that touch on existentialism, creativity and mortality. Yeah, massive topics! They appear to be playing versions of themselves, and the naturalism on display is remarkable. Three decades on, I cannot wait to hear their thoughts!
For more information, and to book tickets, click here:
http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/literature-spoken-word/tickets/andre-gregory-and-wallace-shawn-in-conversation-60941
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