- Théâtre de la Colline Wajdi Mouawad
An intense spectacle by Wajdi Mouawad that mixes languages in a Tower of Babel which will allow us to grasp a unique point of view.
Tous des oiseaux de Wajdi Mouawad au Théâtre de la Colline / photo Simon Gosselin
Four hours of performance in English, German, Hebrew, and Arabic. This format shatters the traditional hour and a half, giving Wajdi Mouawad a vast space befitting his intention: to lead us into the labyrinth of family relationships fraught with the conflicts between Arabs and Jews. The play tells the story of Eitan, a young German scientist of Israeli origin, and Wahida, a young researcher of Arab origin who is following in the footsteps of a Muslim diplomat forcibly converted to Christianity. This encounter plunges Eitan into a violent conflict with his father and into the complexities of his family's past.
It is not the truth that hits the protagonist so hard, but the speed with which he receives it. Wajdi Mouawad's text and direction play with the audience's sense of time, establishing the rhythm of Eitan's quest. We gradually enter the recesses of his family's memory and the legacy of the conflicts between Arabs and Jews. Nothing is truly certain anymore; even beliefs are no longer strong enough to dictate actions, and all certainties are crumbling. It takes a good four hours to get to this point. Superb!
Stéphane Boularand@bigorre_org / ©Bigorre.org / spectacle vu le Wednesday, December 26, 2018 / publié le Sunday, December 30, 2018