So I was talking to the French Ambassador to the US, Jean-David Levitte, and his wife the other day, and I said . . .
What? Of course I’ve met the French Ambassador to the US, Jean-David Levitte, and his wife. Hasn’t everyone? Oh right, I’m sorry, I’m just That Special.
Ha ha! Just kidding! I’m not THAT much of a tool. (Yes I am.) But I did meet the French Ambassador to the US, Jean-David Levitte, and his wife, on Friday night. Let me back up a weeeeeee bit.
I may or may not in this space have mentioned that I am playing George Washington in a new musical written by noted local composer Evelyn Swensson. We spent most of September rehearsing, and opened at the “Baby Grand” (a new, small theater built next to the Grand Opera House in downtown Wilmington) on Friday morning for a bunch of school kids bussed in from all over creation. On Friday night, we had our “gala debut,” which involved some extra scenes with Revolutionary War reenactors, and the presence of the French Ambassador to the US, Jean-David Levitte, and his wife.
The show itself is lovely; it’s approximately 75 minutes long, and features music from the 17th and 18th century that Evelyn adapted with different words to fit her story and script. The cast is quite good, featuring a group of talented kids and some of their parents. Even the ever-remarkable Jennifer Kennard (whom you may remember as My Illustrious CostarTM from Brigadoon in 2004) appears as Martha Washington.
After the show was over, I was introduced to the French Ambassador to the US, Jean-David Levitte, and his wife, at which time I apologized for what I had done to their language (one of the songs I sing is “Rochambeau Est Bon Camarade,” the French-ified version of “Rochambeau’s a Good Fellow”), and we had a lovely conversation in which I pointed out that Washington himself was probably sterile, which caused a brief awkward look between the Ambassador and his wife. If there’s anything that Matt Hearn knows, it’s embarrassing himself in front of foreign diplomats.
I’ve decided I would very much like to be His Excellency something. Even if it’s just His Excellency the Royal Garderobe Sponger.
