So, my host mother often invites me to go to the theatre with her, and I accept anytime I am able to. I love going to the theatre, and I find that it really helps me to figure out what I comprehend and also get to test my rapid-fire French skills. The theatre is interesting because the actors are using very specific vocabulary and they often talk with accents or in strange voices, so it is difficult for a person to understand if French is not their native language.

Akila told me that she and her friend were going to the theatre Friday and that it would be a good opportunity for me to talk with some interesting people, so I was really excited. We got in the car to go to the theatre, picked up Isabele, and we were on our way. Minutes later we arrived in front of a house and parked the car. I was really confused. Akila was like “ok, we’re here.” So I got out, and I asked her if we were at the theatre. Apparently it is really common here for traveling productions to go to peoples’ houses and present their play for only 30 or so people.

So, we went in, did the whole kiss introduction, talked for a while and then the production began. It was only one lady, and she came down the stairs for a dramatic entrance. After that, she performed alone for one hour and did two costume changes. It was really neat because she included the audience. I have to admit though, that I was mostly praying that she wouldn’t ask me something because I didn’t want to have to explain that I had no idea what was going on in the play. Haha.

After she finished her performance, everyone clapped for a really long time, so I figured it must have been really interesting. Don’t get me wrong here, I understood a lot of what she was saying, but I couldn’t piece together a story because I didn’t get any of the context. Akila told me after it was over that the word she kept repeating meant fortune teller, and it was a story of a woman who had a twin sister when she was young who died and she assumed her personality. After she explained that to me, I understood a lot better.

The actress came over and I got to speak a bit with her. She told me that I had great energy coming from my eyes while she was performing, whatever that means. Akila told her that I look at the television like that too, and we were the only ones who laughed at that. I hope she didn’t take offense…it was only a joke. I am supposed to go to the theatre again next week, but I guess it could be another home performance. I have to say that it was very interesting.