Review: STILL LIFE / PROVIDENCE at the Théâtre des Déchargeurs

Pierre Laville directs two shows in which war leads the world… And leads to inextricable personal situations full of dilemmas… Still Life and Providence are playing at the Théâtre des Déchargeurs until May 19.

The pervasive power of the past, the malaise of the present and the unpleasant inconsistency of the future.

In these two plays, Pierre Laville offers us the opportunity to enter the personal world of an actor of war in spite of himself and victims of the violence that every war engenders.

The scenography is minimalist, two chairs, an armchair, a screen and thus gives all its breadth and power to the acting of the actors who excel in the expression of their feelings.
It also leaves room for the immensity of the despair of some, the naivety of others, the cruelty of past events and the optimistic certainty that sometimes surfaces.

Still Life: Burden of the Past Wanted or Endured

It is a universe entangled with happy or painful memories, personal or shared ideas, feelings of revolt or love, social or family justifications. To this are added forced or real excuses, nurtured or derisory hopes.
From this kaleidoscope of ideas that merge, collide, form and distort, arises a feeling of uneasiness in which the understanding of different situations comes up against misunderstanding. The extremely fair and level-headed acting of the actors, Manon Clavel, Antoine Courtray and Ambre Pietri, contributes to the messy progression towards an end where no problem can be solved. The pervasive power of the past, the malaise of the present and the unpleasant inconsistency of the future are on the menu of this play.
In this text by Émilie Mann, the construction of the narrative skilfully led by a permanent mise en abime gives the vision of three monologues in which the stories of each of the three characters complement each other.

PROVIDENCE: You speak of a month of September, you!

Neil La Bute offers us in his story to live the unusual consequences of September 11, 2001.
Caught in a real trap when they thought they had avoided the worst, will the two characters, played by Xavier Gallais and Marie-Christine Letort – a woman and her lover who should have been in the Twin Towers – succeed in finding the solution to their situation, both providential and harmful?
This mismatched couple who is flailing is faced with an extraordinary chance to find themselves free, in front of an unexpected solution to live their love but also in the inability to communicate that goes as far as settling accounts or mix the employee/employer relationship and the guilt that hinders relationships. They go around in circles, do not move forward in their decisions, their situation is impossible, insolvent. They go from a desperate hope to a desolate overwhelm. It is a dark play, without indulgence that is played before the eyes of the spectators who strongly feel the discomfort and malaise of the characters who can no longer be masters of their destiny yet so coveted. What would we have done in their place?

Two pieces that paint realistic portraits and in which the viewer feels challenged and always on the alert. They do not provide solutions but ask fair questions.
Two pieces that must be seen without hesitation.

Practical information

Theater : LES DÉCHARGEURS
from Tuesday to Saturday
duration : 1h25

Directed by: Pierre LAVILLE

STILL LIFE from until May 19 PROVIDENCE until May
12