The Butterfly Collector by Adam Dickson: A man's view on life and relationships

I really enjoyed reading The Butterfly Collector, the story of Peter Calliet, a man at the edge of a crisis, angry with a life he feels he's got no control over. 

He has it all, a prolific property development business, money and a perfect girlfriend who is planning their perfect wedding and a very settled and organized life to follow. But that's not what he wants. 

So when he encounters the mysterious and reluctant Natalie, he takes on the challenge to seduce her, risking all in the process. 

Peter is not necessarily likeable but he has a lot to deal with, including a demanding teenage daughter and the death of a friend years before still hunting him. 

But ultimately he, like all of us, is just in search of happiness, at the risk of hurting other people. 

The Butterfly Collector depicts an honest and realistic view on life in general and relationships in particular from a man's perspective.

The Butterfly Collector is available to buy on Amazon in Kindle or paperback version. 

 Laurent C. is a UK based French actor and translator
Contact: 07708362408  

contact@franglais-moi.co.uk

My review of Ride! by BAFTA winner John Foster

I went to see Ride! by BAFTA winner John Foster at the Lighthouse in Poole, Dorset last week-end. I was really looking forward to watching the final play and see how it had developed since I’d read an early 20min version for John in one of our Doppelganger Dialogues.

When I read it, although I am the completely wrong person for the part, I really connected with the character and felt his pain all the way through from the early surprise and denial to the real fear from the realisation that there can be only one outcome to that story.

The script has now evolved into a full length play delivered with masterclass as a virtual one hander by Shaquille John in a wonderful performance where he delivers through his spoken thoughts and convoluted body moves all the emotions he is going through. He also speaks his tormentors’ words managing to smoothly switch from one character to another, finding truth in ever characterisation.

The subject matter is as relevant as ever with the growing open racism trends brought by the likes of Brexit here and Trump’s election in the US making it acceptable to engage with such backwards and short-sighted thoughts and behaviours embraced by nationalism.

Although Shaquille John is the one shining here for his outstanding performance, huge credit must be given to John Foster for a very relevant, thoughtful and intelligent script tackling a difficult subject matter, the abduction and murder of a black delivery guy by members of the Ku Klux Klan only 20 years ago!, Charmaine K Parkin for a very original direction and use of recordings of the Shaquille’s delivery of some parts of the script, managing to break the performance in scenes without any actual breaks or the actor ever leaving the stage, and finally Ben Waller for the additional sound effects and music giving the show a very authentic Deep south atmosphere. And finally producer Junior Jones for bringing this masterpiece to the stage.

The standing ovation at the end said it all!

 Laurent C. is a UK based French actor and translator
Contact: 07708362408  

contact@franglais-moi.co.uk