In 1999, Arthur Nauzyciel directed his first play in Lorient (France): 'Le Malade imaginaire ou le silence de Molière' (The Imaginary invalid or the Silence of Molière), based on Molière's work and a fiction by Giovanni Macchia.
Twenty-three years later he revives this seminal show with the desire to pass it on to today's audience. By returning to this creation where two figures cross each other, Molière, who was taking his leave (the author died at the 4th performance of his play) and his only daughter, Esprit-Madeleine Poquelin – Arthur Nauzyciel gives substance to the source of his theatre. The performance, which mixes reality and fiction to the point of vertigo, reveals what underlies the artist: his conviction that life and death are intertwined, that the past feeds the present and that Art can repair us.
He who played Diafoirius the son, plays this time Diafoirus the father. At his side, 1 actress and 1 actor present at the origin, Catherine Vuillez and Laurent Poitrenaux. The trio is surrounded by 7 performers, their former students at the TNB Drama School. These young people carry this testamentary confession.
Embedded in 'Le Malade imaginaire', the words of Esprit-Madeleine sow confusion. She brings to light a world of grief, jealousy, anger and love. Le Silence, says Arthur Nauzyciel, is the story of a girl who said "no" to her family, her father and her name. Le Malade is the story of a man who dies in the theatre dreaming that his family will forgive him for being born Poquelin and dying Molière.
Based on the play Le Malade imaginaire
(The Imaginary Invalid)
By MOLIÈRE
And the novel Il Silenzio di Molière
(The Silence of Molière)
by GIOVANNI MACCHIA
Direction and adaptation
ARTHUR NAUZYCIEL
Assistant director
RAPHAËL HABERBERG
THÉO HEUGEBAERT
Set design
CLAUDE CHESTIER
Costumes
CLAUDE CHESTIER
PASCALE ROBIN
Lighting
MARIE-CHRISTINE SOMA
Sound
XAVIER JACQUOT
With
HINDA ABDELAOUI
AYMEN BOUCHOU
VALENTIN CLABAULT
MAXIME CROCHARD
ARTHUR NAUZYCIEL
LAURENT POITRENAUX
ARTHUR RÉMI
RAPHAËLLE ROUSSEAU
SALOMÉ SCOTTO
CATHERINE VUILLEZ
Photo: Philippe Chancel
