Trilogie Mayenburg: Le Moche
English Title
Mayenberg Trilogy: The Ugly One
Director
Maia Sandroz
Year
2013-2016
Form
Stage play
Where staged
Théâtre de l’Argument
2013-2015 Théâtre de Rungis, Théâtre des Quartiers d’Ivry,
Théâtre Paris-Villette, Théâtre de la Générale
Duration
Le Moche: 55 mins
Trilogie Mayenburg: 3h30 minutes (intermission between Voir Clair & Perplexe included)
Synopsis
Mr. Lette discovers that he is ugly.
His wife claims to love him despite his "Catastrophic" face, but the decision to have surgery is quickly taken. When he wakes up from anaesthesia, nothing will be as before: the surgeon made his face a masterpiece. Lette's rebirth as a handsome and irresistible man makes him quickly popular. His surgeon uses his image as a registered trademark. His superior uses his beauty to attract wealthy investors. Women line up to sleep with him. But the market value of Lette collapses quickly by the time he finds himself faced with several replicas of himself: indeed the surgeon has fashioned the same Lette's perfect face to anyone who wished pay for it. Lette sees himself forced to fight to defend his own identity, but it looks like there is no turning back possible…
Translated from the theatre programme
Adèle’s role
Lette’s assistant, Karlmann (a role usually played by a man)
Trailer from the production
An interview with Maia Sandoz, the play's director, with snippets from Le Moche
[Some recordings were made and shown on TV in France, but I have not been able to find them, only dead links. I will keep looking, but if you find them please let me know so that I can update.]
Théâtre de l’Argument
When working in theatre Adèle seems to like to work with her friends. Her good friend Maia Sandoz, who she starred with in L'Apollonide, is a frequent theatre collaborator. In 2006 Maia and Paul Moulin (who was also in L'Apollonide) co-founded the Théâtre de l’Argument in Paris. We will see Adèle in more theatre productions with Maia and Paul and Théâtre de l’Argument in coming days. Adèle is a member of this theatre troupe and has appeared in numerous of their productions. It looks like it is a fabulous group of smart and creative people who make fabulous theatre, going by all the reviews that I have found, and the fact that they continue to make theatre together demonstrates that they are great friends.
About Maia & Adèle and the Theatre L'Argument: Snippet from article in Liberation
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| Adèle & Maia |
From the director, Maia Sandoz:
“The ugly is a play on identity, which attacks, with infallible precision, our fixation on external appearance and raises the question of the violence of exclusion in general. It’s an implacable comedy, a short play, terrifying and monstrous in its very form: four actors play eight roles, no change of scene so much so that the story of this monster who became icon in spite of himself runs at full speed. Mayenburg operates here a total destruction of space and accelerates time like coming out of a nightmare. It’s amazing and enjoyable. No change in the faces of the characters, specify the didascalies, and it is the gaze of others that transforms reality. This piece meets the conditions for a collective illusion.
The truth is reduced to the mere appearance of the Ugly, the actors are on the stage permanently, no entry, exit and no device is used. Thus a mental creation in the collective consciousness occurs: the actor is really ugly or beautiful depending on what the text states. An illusory reality. The illusion here is a matter of perception.”
translated from the theatre programme
A nice article about Adèle and the theatre:
Adèle Haenel, César in her pocket, returns to her first love: the theater
Reviews
“Identity is the question. The radicalism of Mayenburg and his snarky ferocity are carried by aerial actors, such as Paul Moulin in the title role. In an anthracite pants suit, white shirt, striped tie, Adèle Haenel is a young man as handsome as an angel. His detached presence works wonders. This little dramatic precipitate speaks volumes about our tormented world and the other performers, Maïa Sandoz, Serge Biavan, Christophe Danvin craniously defend their scores."
Armelle Heliot, Le Figaro
“The eight characters will be played by four actors. None of them will leave the set. Lette will have the same face before and after the operation.
These instructions require great precision in the staging. Without any change of decor or costume, Maïa Sandoz takes us into this lively whirlwind, leaving us as a guide only the gaze of the characters in relation to each other.
There is something wacky, chilling and offbeat.
The identities intermingle in a great fluidity and simplicity, and as the story is told, the actors juggle with their characters who themselves change faces.
Adèle Haenel's choice to interpret the assistant / Karlmann son adds to this tangled identity an intriguing and daring gender confusion (or standardization).
In the almost old-fashioned decor of the meeting room with faded wallpaper, a sound atmosphere, interpreted on the guitar by
Christophe Danvin, is enough to bring the necessary: illustrate the surgical operation or even create the atmosphere of a congress.”
Trilogie Mayenburg:
“… By putting together these three pieces, Maïa Sandoz clearly shows the twisted nature of the Mayenburg universe and, better, each piece improves the next and the one before. The show owes a lot to what is the sinews of war in this type of theater: the actors. And the delicate musical accompaniment of Christophe Danvin. "
Jean-Pierre Thibaudat - Rue89
Images from the production
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| I have read that she sings Joe Cocker's 'You are so Beautiful' in this production. |
Links
- The production's website
- An interview (in French) with Adèle, including about this production
- Changing the Scenery: 25 Jan 2015
- https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/changement-de-decor/adele-haenel
Thank you very much for your research!❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. I am having a great time looking into Adèle's career and have learned so much about French cinema, and now about aspects of the French theatre world. It is good to share these things. Adèle is a great guide in these things.
ReplyDelete