Atlanta’s resident playwright and bestselling novelist Pearl Cleage, has an intriguing new production coming to the Atlanta Theatre this September. Titled, What I learned in Paris, it’s an Atlanta love story that follows the lives of five “bright, energetic people who have just changed the world as they know it.” They’re basking in the campaign success of the election of Atlanta’s first black Mayor, Maynard Jackson, while also facing the scrutiny of politics and its impact on their personal lives.
Read what Cleage has to say about her latest play. –yvette caslin
What keeps you inspired to create new work? What excites you in the world of theater?
I have been a writer all my life. I am constantly on the look out for stories, characters [and] ideas that will translate into plays. I think that theater is a unique way to communicate with people as they gather together with other people they may not even know. It creates a sense of shared community for the time of the performance that hopefully carries over into other aspects of the audience’s life because they have shared this experience together. This shared moment is one of the things that I love most about theater.
What was your inspiration for this play?
I worked in Maynard Jackson’s first campaign and I remember the excitment we felt when he won. We knew we were making history and we were proud to be a part of it, but we also knew that he was taking on a very hard job and those of us who were working with him, and for him, were going to have to do the best work of our lives to be sure the people who voted for him got the attention and change they were hoping for when they cast that ballot. I was reminded of that historic 1973 moment when I watched President Obama on election night in 2008. I remembered thinking that his life would never be the same. That was true for those of us who worked for Mayor Jackson, too. I thought the time was right to explore some of those memories and ideas. But the play is not a history play. It’s a romantic comedy because I believe that part of what is so interesting is that human beings can change the world and still be the messy, complicated characters that we are. There is humor in how people live their lives and that is a big part of this play, too.
How did you come up with the title?
The title for this play, What I Learned in Paris, refers to the main character who took a trip to Paris when her marriage fell apart and discovered that she was “already the woman I was longing to be.” The play takes place in Atlanta. The lesson was learned in Paris!
Do you travel to Paris?
I’ve never been to Paris. I don’t like to fly!
When you hear that someone is visiting Paris for the first time, what are the first three things that come to mind?
I’ve read so much about Paris and longed to go, so anyone I know who is going has to promise to send me a postcard and sit in a beautiful sidewalk cafe and drink a champagne toast to me, back in Atlanta. I still may go some day when I get my nerve up. That’s why I love being a writer. My imagination can take me places I may never see except in my mind’s eye.
What suggestions do you have for writers to overcome writers block?
Many times what people call writer’s block is the confusion that happens when a writer has a great idea, but their writing skill is not up to the task of putting that idea down on paper. I think that learning the craft of writing is critical. Even if you have a good story idea, if you don’t know how to structure a play or put a novel together, it will never be what that writer is hoping to produce. I encourage writers to get involved with workshops, take classes, read the many good writing books that are available. I recommend Bird by Bird, a wonderful writing book by Ann Lamott. She de-mystifies the process and gives you great tips on how to move past the moment of blockage. I also encourage writers to keep journals. It’s like being a musician and playing scales. Putting words on paper regularly is part of the necessary discipline of writing. A journal is a great way to do that.
Without giving away too much about the play, which adjectives would you use to describe each of the characters?
The characters in this play are all bright, energetic people who have just changed the world as they know it by helping to elect Atlanta’s first black mayor. They are now standing in that very bright light that falls on you when you do something historic. The question they have to ask themselves is whether or not they are who they say they are. At the heart of it, this play is about the necessity to tell the truth, in politics and in love.
What kind you find in Pearl Cleage’s toolbox when she’s in her creative zone? (anything goes, coffee cup, chewing gum, etc.)
I work at home and I’m lucky that my office has a window so I can watch my neighborhood going by as I work. I drink coffee and play music while I work. There is no pattern to the music. Sometimes I play Bob Marley; sometimes Motown! I have a cat who likes to come and curl up on my desk while I’m writing. I just push him gently to the side and keep working. It’s kind of nice to have him there, dozing away. Reminds me not to get too stressed about anything. At the end of the day, I sometimes reward myself with a Tootsie Roll pop – preferably red – just to finish the day with a smile.
How can fans keep up with you?
I have a Facebook fan page where I’m pretty active and I do a lot of readings around town. I also have a website, but I haven’t been keeping it up like I should. It still says I have two grandchildren and I have four now! (www.pearlcleage.net and www.facebook.com/pages/Pearl-Cleage/103365652761)
Any last words…
My last word is come and see What I Learned in Paris. Tickets are moving fast, so don’t come fuss at me in the grocery store when you can’t get them for the night you wanted. Do it now! And, thanks.
What I Learned in Paris runs from September 5-30, 2012 at the Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree Street.
