Ele: Play writer californiano com quem mantive um curto mas simpático diálogo há uns três anos. Na época ele me mandou toda a sua obra por email e acabei de relê-la numa sentada só. Como diz o antônio Bivar: Uma delícia. Então remexi bits de memórias e achei nossas missivas virtuais. Tou com preguiça de traduzir. Vai ai uma parte: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: xandyjacs@hotmail.comTo: markle9@hotmail.com
Subject: A new brazilian fan says congratulations!
Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 23:39:13 +0300
Hi Mark
I saw a play with some of your texts here in Brazil (Fortaleza city )last week. And I cant find anything 'bout you published here. I'd like very much to read other plays made by you. Not even at internet and at theatreneo.com.
Anyway. I belive that you'd like a brasilian writer called 'Caio Fernando Abreu' He is alread dead and wrote lotes of romances, plays, ccrhonics but he where better criating short stores. (like you)
Anyway, at 'the new york times's site they havaa very god critic bout 'whatever happened to dulce Veiga?' A Caio's novel published in USA and rientely adapted to Movies here in Brasil.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE4D61531F93BA25751C0A9679C8B63
Congratulations. You are fantastic.
A brazilian poetry says that a good text is the one who read us. You plays do that very nicely.
Hugs
Alexandre Sousa
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From: markle9@hotmail.comTo: xandyjacs@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: A new brazilian fan says congratulations!
Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2007 17:07:49 -0700
Dear Alexandre:
What a wonderful letter to receive! Thank you so much for writing. And muito obrigado for
your kind words about my plays!
I have to tell you that I have seen many people do my plays (in English), but Pausa Companhia has given me the BEST production I have ever had -- in any language. They are fantastic! I was honored to meet them a month ago. They flew me to Sao Paulo to see them perform. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. So I got to see a little (very little) of Sao Paulo, but I got to meet the actors of Pausa Companhia, who were so nice to me.
I will have to find that book by Caio Fernando Abreu! He sounds very interesting.
I do have other plays that I have written -- I would be happy to send them to you if you're interested. They are all in English, of course -- Pausa Companhia has only translated the six plays that you saw. I've attached one, my latest one...in a pdf file. Let me know if you have trouble opening or reading it. Are you able to read plays in English?
Again, thank you so much for your kind letter. I'm so glad you enjoyed my plays!
Hugs,
Mark
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From: xandyjacs@hotmail.comTo: markle9@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: A new brazilian fan says congratulations!
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:55:47 +0300
Thank God you understood those words I wrote! ‘cause I almost didn’t understood it when I read it once again. (I wrote that email very quickly and exited )Oh you can send me the plays cause I can read it in English . I’m better reading than… (I never know if it is write, Right, Wright rsrsrs) writing.
I’ve already read “LA 8 AM”.
Once again you get the heart of the matter. I always think by myself: An I far from the middle of my life? The middle of my life had already passed by? Or an I exactly at the meddle of if… today? I (and nobody) will never know. (I’m just 24 and I prefer to think ‘bout the first opition – that I’m veeeeeeeeeeeeeery far from the midlle rsrsrs - but the boring doubt keeps rounding) That angst. Maybe a little existentialist but still horrible. Everytime we talk bout dying we get more serious like the play.
Pilip Aries says that we spend lot of time ‘cause death is occulted from us at Capitalist society (different of Meddle Age. When Dying was a public celebration). People act as if they would never die (cause if you think of it you’ll be depressed and will not buy as the say way as if you were happy). That’s why Must of people pass 20 years working in a place or area they doesn’t like, keep married years and years without love or doesn’t say good bye (like Kevin and paige) cause we think we are highlanders or we’ve forgot the we are not him.
“Who wants to live forever…” Queen…
I think the more you try to catch/ control time the more you lose it. And the play talks bout it.
And it gives us that irresistible sensation of “uniconsciência” (I don’t know if you have this word: uniconsciousness or overconsciousness) it’s like being some kind of god witch –like most of gods - knows everything.
P.S1: Do not forget to send me other plays.
P.S.2: Seeing “aperitivos” was a complete –and happy- coincidence. I was at the Cultural Center able to see another play. But when I read ‘bout “aperitivos”. I said: “oh god I must see it”. And I had already bought the tickets to another play. And it was 8p.m. (the time to start the plays) and my dating partner hadn’t already arrived. And the ticket guy didn’t accept credit cards…
P.S3: A friend of mine would love to see the play. The holly play I was thinking of him. He is an English Teacher and I’d love to show him your work. (especially the “aperitivos” – and I’d like to have it too) So if you can send me it I woud like very much to read it again and again. I thought : “This play will never comeback to Fortaleza and he will not have opportunity to see it”. Fortaleza is very far from the south of Brazil. You spend less time going from here to Madri then going from here to Florianópolis (the city of the actors)
Hugs
Alexandre
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Alexandre:Yes, I understood your letter perfectly! Trust me, if I tried to write in Portuguese, you would not understand a word.
I have to tell you something funny -- I always get those words mixed up too. Words that sound the same but are spelled differently: -- write, right, or won and one, or two, too, and to. And English is my native language! I don't have an excuse.
Thank you so much for your kind words about 'LA 8 AM'. I am used to writing comedy plays, so writing something more serious like that was new to me. I wasn't sure if it would work. And -- heheh -- you're so young! I don't think you're even near the middle yet. :) That theory about Capitalist Society may be right! It's interesting. Funny you should mention that Queen song -- I had just heard it that morning right before I got your email! Odd, huh? I love little coincidences like that.
You are so kind to want to read more plays! I am going to send you some because I would love to know what you think of them. You must promise to be honest! I am also attaching Aperitivos, in Portuguese...the other plays are in English, of course. Feel free to ask about anything you don't understand. They are in a variety of styles...some serious, some more silly.
I often wonder how 'American' my plays are. I was frankly surprised that they worked so well in Brazil! But there does not seem to be much of a cultural barrier. I guess we are all more alike than I realized.
Thank you SO much for all your kind comments! Hope to hear from you soon.
All my best,
Mark Harvey Levine
