Playwright strikes on a familiar theme in ‘Bitter Sweet Chocolate’

Don’t bother looking for Kenner author Rebecca Gernon’s play “Bitter Sweet Chocolate” in bookstores, libraries or the Internet because it’s not at those places.

Here’s the reason why.

The play, about a couple of friends – Cynthia and Amelia – and their relationship spanning half a century, was designed so that the second act could stand alone as a work in itself.

Gernon entered that second act, titled “The Last Chocolate,” in Houma’s Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne’s 2006 writing competition for short plays, where she won the first-prize check for $100.

Le Petit board member Pat Crochet did not know “The Last Chocolate” was part of a longer work, Gernon said.

Crochet liked the short play so much she asked the playwright whether she had any full-length works in her background that Le Petit could produce.

Whereupon Gernon announced, “I believe I have what you’re looking for” – or something to that effect.

Le Petit (7829 Main St.) will stage the premiere of “Bitter Sweet Chocolate” Friday, Nov. 9, to Sunday, Nov. 18, every night at 7:30 p.m., except for the Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

In keeping with the work’s title, Le Petit will be serving Mudslides, the Kahlua and vodka concoction, on opening night only. The theatre will offer chocolate treats during subsequent showings.

Director John Sonnier said the creamy candy occupies the centerpiece of the play. The actors have to eat chocolate onstage.

“I had to make sure the actors were not allergic to chocolate,” Sonnier said, “and that they knew they would gain five pounds.”

The play requires four actors to portray the two women at the heart of the story: two to depict the younger and older Cynthia (Angie Peltier, Patricia Milsted), and two to play the younger and older Amelia (Danielle Marchive, Edwina Yakupzack).

But only a couple of actors (Steve Duplantis, Harlan Belanger) portray the women’s spouses.

“Chocolate” is a dramedy with “lots of laughter, lots of tears,” Sonnier said.

“In the second act, it all falls into place,” he said. “You find out about the chocolate, their past. You’ll say, Why didn’t I figure that out before?”

In the play, Cynthia and Amelia had been friends since high school, and are in their 30s during the first act of “Chocolate.”

The friends have clashing demeanors. Amelia is a free spirit, while Cynthia is more inhibited. They both married men who possess similar personalities to their own.

Cynthia, who had served as an Army nurse, wed a colonel who follows a strict code of behavior.

“Amelia’s husband is more devil-may-care,” Gernon said. “He does goofy things, like bungee jumping. Amelia goes along with it.”

Gernon said though “Chocolate” deals with death – Amelia’s brother was killed in World War II; Cynthia saw death as an Army nurse-the play maintains a lighter mood.

“They talk about common (place) things, but it has humor,” she said.

Eventually, the two characters realize they have been harboring secrets.

“They’re honest with one another, but there are certain feelings you have,” Gernon said. “They’re afraid to release them even though they’re friends.”

Not surprisingly, the consumption of chocolate provides “Chocolate” its anchor points, serving to move the action along.

Gernon gave an instance of the candy’s importance to the play.

“Cynthia has two boys, but wants a girl,” she said. “She bites into a chocolate with a strawberry filling, sees the pink, and says, ‘I will have a girl.’ Chocolate helps them shift from one topic to another.”

Gernon is from the Midwest, so it’s natural she has Cynthia’s husband running a steakhouse in Omaha at one point. The author moved to Kenner with her husband, who is a New Orleans-area native.

“I’ve acted (in) and directed community theatre,” Gernon said.

“Chocolate” was written about women for two reasons, she explained: “More women than men try out for community theatre, and I can write easier for women.”

Gernon said she will attend the play’s opening night premiere at Le Petit on Nov. 9.

Call (985) 876-4278 for more information.