A Musical Experience in Paris

by French Composer Patrick Geus

Amour Fantastique

Feel youself transported to PARIS

Love - Drama - Romance - Intrigue

Premiered 18 - 21 February 2010

The Passion for Music or Love - which is stronger ?

CD $20 on Sale Now

Order by e-mail:

amourfan@gmail.com

Director - John Fausett
(Les Misérables, West Side Story,
Chess, Evita, ...)

• My husband and I loved Amour Fantastique! The music was excellent and the story moved along at a good pace. I really loved the slides in the background; I thought they added a huge amount to the performance, they moved the action from a stage in Epsom to truly being in Paris. We both found it a very moving experience.Well done to Patrick and Francesca, the great cast, and everyone else who was involved! Nickee Sanders
• We wish to congratulate you both on a wonderful show. All aspects were really marvellous. We will long remember it. Our sincere best wishes. Geoff & Valerie Levy
• Félicitations tous les deux pour Amour Fantastique ! J’aurais aimé pouvoir le revoir samedi, mais j’avais déjà des billets pour une pièce de théâtre. Les chanteurs/acteurs ont bien transmis les sentiments des personages qui étaient très humains et fortement intéressants. Très cordialement. Rosemary Arnoux
• It's been a week since the show and man, about half a dozen tracks keep playing in my head non stop, even at night, even when I dont want to !!! and I cant even choose the track, it imposes itself to me and that's it, it keeps playing and playing.... I feel I know every note of those songs... I've got to find a way of... turning it off at some stage !! haha
  It's very clever music, I realised you used parts of melodies of one song in another song and in another key. That's very cool as it gives an impression of deja vu without knowing where it comes from... And crois moi Patrick ceux qui disent que ta versalite n'est pas cool, they are wrong !!! Brigitte Legendre
• Un spectacle bien réussi, nos félicitations! Beaucoup de variété -très spéciale, plein d'humour mais une histoire cohérente et bien intégrée avec la musique. Mise en scène, super - surtout 'la tente de construction'. Nous aimions bien 'Bicycle', bien sur, aussi les variations Chopin, l'inspiration de la fée ou génie, qui flottait un peu partout, le rock pop gangster qui n'était pas gangster ... . Surtout aussi ce M. Chopin ... il n'y aura jamais un autre Chopin. Que la force soit avec vous et avec la musique! Bien cordialement. John Goodman

Merci for your comments: amourfan@gmail.com

Graham posted 1 Apr 2010, 12:18 PM / 26 May 2010: What I saw:

The lighting was dim. I could see an apparition with what looked like wings pointing high overhead. As the light was gradually turned up the silhouette turned out to be a stony angel. It could have been any one of the golden angels cemented forever atop the Palais Garnier or any one of the many angelic statuary found in France. A large portrait of the composer Hector Berlioz appears to be gazing intensely down on this particular statue as though communicating with it when, quite suddenly, it moved. Wow. And so, seemingly at the beheit of Berlioz this enigmatic spirit descends heaven and flies on her mysterious way.

Its not long before she spies a quarry and then remains close by him, always invisible. He, meanwhile, appears clumsy and awkward although it soon becomes apparent that he has a deep appreciation for the music of Berlioz. And so the purpose of our white guardian is revealed. She is nearby as he works studiously writing his music. She watches his dalliances unfold. She follows him around the globe, she observes his highs and is happy for him. She feels his lows and shows an angelic petulance. Twice she enthusiastically takes on human form. The first time as a backup dancer where her movements are deep and true, unlike her mortal partners whose dance steps appear sloppy and out of step. Brilliant. She is a supernatural being after all and a perfect one at that.

We meanwhile, are taken on a musical tour and bear witness to many different types of music; learner, classical, pop, flamenco, jazz, gospel, reggae, rock and even busking. Again brilliant. Even better is when our heroine finds herself alone and, through her, Berlioz makes a ghostly appearance. He glides behind the piano and jams his spirited heart out. Wow, wow.

I saw the show twice cos I loved it. On opening night it was a long jam, and with my heightened imagination, I appreciated everymoment of it. At Saturdays' show the jam seemed to have been shortened. A talk with the shows' composer revealed critics had got to his ear and had suggested that the ethereal performance was too long!!!?

Our leading man, meanwhile, is overwhelmed by his dalliance. But his show must go on. His music is written, his orchestra and audience waits. So, with heavy heart, he readies himself for his grand appearance. Here our darlin' angel assists him when she takes on the role of a mirror while he preens himself. She gives her approval of his looks with an omnipotent smile. Then came the climax of the show when she takes on the role of rostrum where, head bowed, she passes on the proverbial baton as if Berlioz gives his eternal blessing. Wow, wow, wow. Heavy.

As I watched our protagonist conducting I couldn't help but notice how stoic he was looking. I was happy for him but at the same time sad. How is that possible? It is made possible through brilliant writing and thats what I saw. If this is the first draft then I don't need to see the final but I will, over and over again.