Calembour

1m, 2w
1m 25-35; 2w 25-35

Calembour (French for "pun") takes us to a café where two lovers are joined by a friend. The lovers are so infatuated with one another that they ignore the friend, but use her words as a springboard to engage in conversation that takes them from proposal to break-up to reconciliation. Zaire, the friend, attempts to discuss her recently unemployed husband and tries to get the trio to order lunch, all to no avail.

Wordplay is at the heart of Calembour, with puns and word association driving the dialogue. One character is French, one is English, and one is American, so differing terminologies for the same thing come into play. Quick exchanges and outsized emotions bring zing to the comedy.

Calembour has simple production requirements – a table, three chairs, and an engagement ring. Accents and well-timed interplay provide plenty of challenges, though, for actors and director.