Opening of the 1st Tragedy Festival at the Arènes de Cimiez: Phèdre, directed by Muriel Mayette-Holtz

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Published on the website : Resonances Lyriques Org

©Meghann Stanley

What could be better, what more could one dream of than a wave of rain to kick off the premiere of a festival of tragedies? What more could one dream of, what better could one wish for than an arena to paint the unambiguous and frenetic passion of a young queen?

Along a red carpet unfolding a stream of royal blood on the tombstone of eternally wounded mythological hearts, Muriel Mayette-Holtz, director of the Théâtre National de Nice and distinguished actress, displays her exceptional talents as a director. The driving force behind a unique project to launch a summer festival of tragedies, the first woman to head the Comédie-Française summons "the poetry of the heart" in a unique setting: a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre which, according to the latest sources,  probably hosted games intended to entertain the population of the city of Cemenelum!

Muriel Mayette-Holtz has plenty to say about dogs, speaking to souls within the vertical walls of the remnants of a bygone era, the time it takes to savour an appetiser, the time it takes to lay down words that "celebrate humanity".

© Meghann Stanley

Thus Phèdre is born, between ten drops of water and an almost imperceptible background of music. A challenge of time that gives the "Do" without looking back and lets our earthly souls indulge in the baptism of cosmic tears. A challenge of times that thunder and pierce in a flash the years of three centuries - the 1st, 17th and 21st. A challenge of language, with the bold caesura of entire verses. A challenge of repertoire, with the removal of characters and the task of narrating the dramatic twists and turns of this epic entrusted to a storyteller who is sometimes a slam poet, sometimes an actor. A challenge of staging, where Hippolyte, true to his name, rides a haughty mount!  A challenge in terms of the "gender" of our time, with a male Oenone in a female role. An interpretative challenge for a very young Phaedra.

© Meghann Stanley

To meet all these challenges, the director of the Nice Côte d'Azur Drama Centre and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild has mastered her casting. In an unfathomable silence, Eve Pereur, with her crystal-clear voice, her striking sensitivity and her fresh sincerity, wins over an audience captivated by Phèdre's monologues. Under the moonlight, she transgresses the power that strangles her. With a gesture – she tears off her dress – and a step – breaking free from the monarchical line of the red carpet – she ventures into the nocturnal arena of her unbridled feelings. Hippolyte – Augustin Bouchacourt – perfectly embodies the innocent purity and courage of a prince in love, loyal and faithful. Nicolas Maury colours Phèdre's maid – Oenone – who is in love with her mistress, with a personal and modest touch that brings to this role a sincere and respectful reflection on gender roles. Nicolas Bouchaud evokes the grandeur of nobility in its fragile corners in Theseus, through elegant, refined and powerful acting. Finally, Jacky Ido, "Prince of Slam", storyteller and interpreter of Theramenes, personifies the poetic link between these places: "I root my verses" in those of Jean Racine. He symbolises the link between spaces and times, actors and spectators, when his warm face and emotional eyes draw close to them to whisper the sacred secret of humanity. A talented poet who sprinkles Alexandrian verses with musical notes, he touches us with his gentle smile, the brilliance of his verses and the truth of his performance.

Phèdre at the Arènes de Cimiez... a highly professional production of this timeless masterpiece, under stars that weep to the rhymes of the actors. Praise also to the sound technicians!

“It’s barely begun, and it’s already over,” it’s barely over and it’s starting again… Until 22 June and, for the entire Tragedies 1 festival, until 5 July. Because the soul feeds on laughter and tears. To feel strongly, to feel intensely, to live powerfully!

1 Nice National Theatre – Tragedy Festival

Nathalie AUDIN

Staging : Muriel Nayettte-Holtz

Lights : François Thouret

Costumes : Rudy Sabounghi, assisté de : Quentin Gargano-Dumas

Wig and make-up: Fabien Giambona

Music : Cyril Giroux

Slam Creation: Jacky Ido

Production : Théâtre National de Nice

CDN Nice Côte d’Azur

Distribution :

Phèdre : Ève Pereur

Théramène : Jacky Ido

Œnone : Nicolas Maury

Hyppolite : Augustin Bouchacourt

Thésèe : Nicolas Bouchaud