A fervent admirer of the thought of Georges Bataille, Alexis Martin has long dreamed of creating a play around the philosopher’s writings. This is what is done, with the creation ofA conspiracyfrom the Nouveau Théâtre Expérimental, under the direction of Daniel Brière.
“Beings are not reduced to their usefulness. » Such is the cry launched by Georges Bataille at the dawn of the 20the century. A call relaunched to the theater these days, in A conspiracy, on the Espace Libre poster.
The show brings together the French writer and the painter André Masson. We find them in the latter’s workshop, around a meal (red wine and andouillettes that are cooked live). Time to write The sacred conjurationpublished in June 1936 in the journal Acephalous ; a manifesto that aims to be a “declaration of war” against a world dedicated to work and performance at all costs.
From the outset, the public is invited to sit in the painter’s studio, designed by David Gaucher.
The entire room on rue Fullum has been transformed to represent Masson’s workshop, while some of his paintings are projected, through the rich lighting of Lucie Bazzo. As if the artist was creating them in front of us.
The role of Bataille is played by Martin, that of Masson, by Maxim Gaudette. Catherine De Léan completes the cast by defending a contemporary secondary character and another from Antiquity. In a surprising mythological interlude, the actress transforms into Ariadne. She unwinds her red thread to Prince Theseus, before he takes the maze to go kill the Minotaur!
PHOTO MARLÈNE G.-PAYETTE, PROVIDED BY THE NEW EXPERIMENTAL THEATER
Maxim Gaudette and Catherine De Léan in A conspiracy
Read before seeing…
In addition to the fascination with death, it is also a question of the alienation of capitalism, of art for art’s sake, of the cult of performance, of the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930s, which echoes the return of the extreme right, etc.
In short, there is no shortage of themes in Martin’s brilliant and fertile mind. His piece is also published by Éditions Somme Tout. We highly recommend that you read it before seeing the show. Because the proposal is confusing and, at times, difficult to follow.
PHOTO MARLÈNE G.-PAYETTE, PROVIDED BY THE NEW EXPERIMENTAL THEATER
A conspiracy is presented at Espace Libre until November 10.
If Bataille’s work is an antidote “to the chatter of the world which distracts us from what is worth contemplating”, paradoxically, A conspiracy is a talkative piece. For an author who worships Beckett, the show lacks pauses of silence to give us time to absorb this dense text.
The text also lacks clarity. We are faced with rich theatrical material, but without a key to access it. We have the impression that Alexis Martin allowed himself to be blinded by his love for Bataille. To the point of getting lost in the labyrinth of this free and committed thought. Damage.
A conspiracy
Text by Alexis Martin. Directed by Daniel Brière. With Alexis Martin, Maxim Gaudette and Catherine De Léan.
Free spaceUntil November 10