Theatre: 52 years of anecdotes
July is the celebration of the Theatre through the Avignon festival.
The opportunity for us to release this compilation of stories.
52 years of history, theatre... from 1970 to 2022, discover these different stories with us. André Abbe takes us through Provence and Occitanie to meet these directors, these actors, these actors.
1972: Occitan Theatre, protest against military camp
Spring 1972 in Figanières (Var): « lo darnier moton de Canjuers »
I only use my memories to evoke the first occitanist show I attended. I'm not gonna ask André Neyton. I'm short.
It was Debré who wanted to make the plan of Canjuers, the plateau for the hundred thousand sheep, the largest military camp in Europe. Under Pompidou, the project was carried out.
Written by Gaston Beltrame, directed by André Neyton, the play was a happy marriage between humour and protest. Miquela sang there « O Magali ma somada ». I forgot a lot.
At the end of the show, applause was fed, and then came the time for debate, an institution at that time. The actors on the stage were watching the spectators standing in the tile right in their eyes. Two minutes of heavy silence, to finish I had been fed up and I had asked in substance, in Provençal or in French, I no longer know « What is the place of the language of Oc in your show? »
One of the actors I didn't know yet, Jean-Yves Royer, had responded with conviction « It's a weapon. ». I remember this answer because I never imagined that my parents' language I wasn't talking to them yet, it took me over 30 to convince them, could be a weapon.
Nearly 50 years later, I think that Löccitan and his dialects were never a weapon but they proved to be useful tools. On radio and television, the spoken language was a link between supporters of the « A » and « O ». I spoke to my maritime Provencal without anyone asking me in which picture I was talking.... Daniel Daumas told me that a lady once asked him that funny question. « What kind of writing do you sing? » Go understand.
What about Provencal? yes it is possible, find a few words from André Abbe by Here !
My best night at the theater
It was in 1974, I had accompanied my friend Jean-Pierre Loubaton to the theatre of the Porte Saint-Martin to attend a performance of « Good Bye Mr Freud » by Jérôme Savary and the Magic Circus which I had seen on TV and which did not attract much. Miracle, I was delighted by this original and humorous show and the presence of Micheline Presle, my favourite French actress. I didn't expect to find her there, but I was taking between her and the Circus troop.
I point out in passing that the two most beautiful French actresses are of Auvergne origin: Micheline with its real name Chassagne and Arletty (Léonie Bathiat).
Another miracle, it was announced at the end of the show that the « Fenomenal Bazaar Unlimited » Azerthipus was going to give « The Apologist », that we were counting on our presence, that there would be a hat at the exit. Half the room was gone, Jean Pierre and I stayed of course.
Five or six actors, Jean-Paul Farré being the only one I saw later in the theatre and in the cinema, read ridiculous, horrible, funny or deceitful texts. The whole thing was a lot of fun. Farre, hallucinated, on the brink of ecstasy, read absolute praises to Comrade Stalin, comical and staggered for us spectators who had since learned about Stalin.
At the end of the show, the actors distributed a sheet and said, seriously, « Take this is mandatory ». On this sheet we found the source of all these quotations... Stalin was from Aragon. I never read a line from him again.
I have attended hundreds of more classic shows, among which dozens are excited but none have left a memory as beautiful as this Magic evening. Saint Martin shared his coat, Savary and Guénolé shared the evening for our pleasure.
To learn more about this theatrical work, visit Here !
Years 80: Jan-Nouvè Tamisier alone on stage
In the 1970s and 1980s he gave his show alone on stage « Viure au Pais es super cool » in Provence and Languedoc, made up of a series of humorous sketches in which the Provencal majority and French alternated.
The guests at the epicier, the old ones on their bench, the grape harvesters in the vineyards that come in the evening will attend an evening of occitan songs...
Jan-Nouvè could observe. At the Arcs sur Argens (Var), in Cadenet (Vaucluse), he was going to listen to the old people who took the air and toured the grocery stores. In Roquebrune sur Argens (Var), he made the harvest at our house every year and then went to Saint Julien (Var).
There is an audio cassette of this show. The one I have is unfortunately inaudible today. I hope that there is an original soundtrack that could one day revive this show of which there is no equivalent to my knowledge in Occitan theatre.
A little Provencal, by Here !
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On France 4, attends a performance of « Dom Juan » Molière. The director insisted on the ridicule of the peasant and the peasant girl who is being rolled by Dom Juan. And to add on their slender appearance, he put on them with an accent of the Midi resembling that of Orane Demazis in the Trilogy of Pagnol, to say the least not very successful. At the same time, I receive an e-mail learning that a GPS brand will leave the choice for the user to receive the information with chti, toulousain or Provençal accent « Oh Good Mother, turn right into Roumanille Street ». I find this initiative, a galejade type, rather friendly.
Our accent is either pitiful or laughable for the beautiful Frankish spirits. With his access to radio and television, thanks in part to regional-language programming, he gradually gained dignity. Like JM Apathy and O. Dartigolles, it is possible today to be a leading journalist in Paris and have an accent « South West » affirmed.
Courage speakers who express themselves « ave l ́asient », you can one day become Prime Minister without being ridiculed by the humorists in bad inspiration.
2010: tribute to Laurent Terzieff
He died in July, and on 5 December 2010 a unique evening was held in the Odeon.
I was up to it, the show was largely by invitation, complete, but the lady from the press service had offered a place on an orchestra seat near the stage. Terzieff was present by voice in a « Dialogue between JS Bach and R.M Rilke ». Gérard Caussé had played at the viola of the cello suites of Jean-Sébastien Bach. Actors came to talk about Terzieff.
The tributes to late artists are often indigestible, but there I had lived a poignant evening. The people present were not spectators, they were more than that. It's hard to explain, besides when I like a show or I'm a little different and I find myself as I came out, not always simple. I had to see a dozen pieces in the Odeon, but two pieces had been particularly popular.
In November 1987, I had seen half of the « the Merchant of Venice » with François Chaumette, Christine Fersen, Richard Fontana. Beautiful staging, beautiful actors... But I had a fake meeting at the end of Sunday afternoon with two officials of an Occitan magazine to which I was going to present Aquo d'Aqui. What a regret I have today to have left for nothing.
In February 1988, 14-year-old François and I went to Paris during the winter holidays. We went to see « Death of a travel clerk » Miller's company with Lisa we were staying with. I recently spoke with François who had loved a lot. François Périer, Claude Winter, Paul Crauchet and Le « brico market » They offered one of the most beautiful memories of theatre, thanks in part to the presence of François. The company is as important as the show seen during an evening.
At the end of the same stay, François and I went to see « Arturo Ui » with Guy Bedos in Chaillot.
All my theatre releases with François were successful except one: at the Chartreuse de Villeneuve, in Portuguese, in 88, texts of Pessoa on the occasion of the centenary of his birth. François was
Annoyed! He didn't understand what Maria de Medeiros and Luis Miguel Sintra were saying. I myself had not understood everything, I confess. But Pessoa's language is a music I like. The next day we left for Portugal via the Landes with the Bressons, which is why I had taken François to Fernando Pessoa. He sometimes tells me about « mouldy plans » I imposed it on him. It was particularly painful for him.
PS: I've been snug, it's December 93 that François and I saw « the resilient ascent of Arturo Ui » Brecht, I checked in the computer, it's coming back to me now. It was savary, grandiose.
Learn more about Laurent Terziefff? Find a video of him in Ina archives by Here !
2003: Paul Barras, revolutionary in the shadow of Mirabeau
Paul Barras (1755-1829), patron of the Management Board, is less known than his Provencal compatriot Mirabeau. Yet he is a key figure of the Revolution.
André Neyton wrote and directed a remarkable play in 2003, in French and Provencal, « Barras, the garlic Viscount » which was played in Fox-Amphoux (Var) native village of Barras, then in Toulon. Thanks to Neyton and the Occitan Dramatic Center, we discover an endearing, picturesque and political Barras. It was he who gave Bonaparte access to power and invented Marianne, the symbol of the Republic. Miquèu Montanaro composed the music very removed from the show.
But who is André Neyton?
Author, actor, director of the Comedia theatre in Toulon and his play « The black legend of Private O" (November 2004), referring to the sad fate of Private Odde of Six Fours (Var), shot for example in 1914. He wrote in Occitan and French.
Also, director of the Occitan Dramatic Center, he gave in March 2016 at the Comedia in Toulon the first four performances of the play « Me, Gaston Domini, by default assassin » of which he is the author and lead actor. Neyton plays there an Occitanophone Dominico speaking poorly French, much closer to the historical character than the Dominico played in the cinema by Jean Gabin and Michel Serrault.
Difficulties to move forced André Neyton to give up playing the play « Me, Gaston Domini, by default assassin » of which he is also the author and director. Let's hope that he can one day go back on the stage to bring to life the aged and tired Domini, speaking well and little French. It seems difficult to find an actor, aged and occitanophone, capable of resuming the role. However, his crutches allow André to move and receive his friends at the Comedia Theatre in Toulon. He's preparing this fall's program, but he can't include it.
Fortunately, a video recording of the show was made in 2019. The actors of the Occitan Dramatic Centre play all the characters of the case, the Dominicans, the Marseilles commissioner, the Parisian journalist, the prison guard.... The DVD is available.
On 4 August 1952, 70 years ago, Gaston was found guilty of the triple murder of an English family. He had escaped the death penalty.
At the Avignon Festival, I was In, I am Off
Classical theatre of the repertoire, contemporary theatre, café theatre, single stage, music hall, musical... all this is theater and I have often been wrong about the merchandise. I still have memories, here are some of them.
The first theatre festival in the world, Avignon has changed a lot in 50 years. Being original, not being late for a fashion has led us to a theatre that is often indigestible.
At the end of a free ambulatory performance on the Popes' Palace Square « Julius Caesar » Jean Pierre Joris had expressed his sadness and disappointment. There was nothing left of what Jean Vilar had born.
It was at the last in July 2012, Joris, 87, was surrounded by young actors. He had been Rodrigue in « Cid » of Corneille in 1947, directed by Jean Vilar in the Court of Honour of the Palace. This old actor (deceased in 2017) was the living witness of a past era, a theatre oriented towards the people. An emotional moment for all the spectators present. Stay the Off and the friendly parades of the troops who come to make their promo in the streets of the old town. That's what I like best. Benedetto in his theatre of the Carmes and Neyton under his island capital gave Occitan plays at their time. You'll have trouble finding one this year, I fear.
And today, what about the festival? Find all programming by Here !
Anne Clement, near her house in the Gard
Comedian, writer, author of plays in Occitan and French, she marked the theatre of Oc with her talent. I keep an emotional memory of reading his text « Abraham Mazel, prophesy prophet ». I had the chance to be invited.
She had given it to the very house where Abraham Mazel lived, in the heart of the Cevennes, I forgot the name of the place. Perhaps it is better not to give it to avoid too many people going back. I couldn't find Anne's current email address and couldn't send her this photo.
No more reading about him? This is by Here !
2017: "La Mandragoura"
2017. I attended in the old Nice this summer a performance of « The Mandragoura » de Silviiano (Sylviane) Mazza performed in Nice by Lou Rodou Nissart.
Capelado to author and troupe. It is increasingly rare to hear theatre in the language of Oc by actors who speak it well.
2019: the end word of Bruno Cécillon
How about a smile? Bruno Cécillon's. Bruno runs the Théâtre de la Rampe de Montpellier. The company has over 7,000 public performances. This interview by the Passado team dates from 2019.
I never spent more than two hours in a row with Bruno but it happened often.
In the 1980s, we first met in the studios of FR3 Marseille
during the recording of the young program « Vaqui » (I can't add the sharp focus on the I), then I
I've seen a lot of theater play. Finally, we found ourselves on the phone or in front of the microphones.
of Radio lenga d-Oc in Montpellier.
Bruno is lucky enough to do the right thing. He surprised me when he once said that he had more
30 years old when he learned the occitan. I was convinced that he had the language of his grandparents,
He spoke with ease.
The last time I saw him, we were showing up in front of the Opera, Comedy Square, asking
an increased presence of löccitan on television. We're still waiting.
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