NYT Caption Time: What's Doing in France: Hip Theater, Heartily Booed -- Notoriety can be Nasty

New York Times ^ | July 29, 2005 | JOHN TAGLIABUE

[OESY]

If this southern French city had a motto, it might be, "Say what you like about me, just make sure you spell my name right."

This summer, the annual theater festival in Avignon, arguably the best known in France, appeared to be putting that age-old publicity strategy to the test.

First, the papers reported booing and catcalls accompanying a performance directed by the choreographer Christian Rizzo. Many in the audience could not stand an electronic buzzing that accompanied the show.

Then most of the audience walked out of a play, called "After/Before," by the French director Pascal Rambert. Much of the performance consisted of film of people being interviewed, and asked the question, "If there were a huge catastrophe, a new deluge, what would you take with you from this world to the next?" One man was heard shouting, as he stormed out, "What have you got against us?"

On top of that, the liberal Le Monde described "The King of Plagiarism," a monologue by the festival's guest of honor this year, Jan Fabre, a Belgian director, as "sheer imposture, bloated by its own importance, and of unfathomable tedium."

Finally, the conservative daily Le Figaro gave a devastating commentary on a production by the French choreographer Mathilde Monnier, titled "Sister and Brother," in which the dancers wrestle with each other for most of an hour to the accompaniment of an annoyingly pulsating electronic tone.

"The hall was not even half full at the beginning," Figaro said, "and at the finale, the boos were far more vigorous than the applause."...

[OESY]

A work by the Belgian stage director Jan Fabre. One verdict: "Sheer imposture, bloated by its own importance, and of unfathomable tedium."



A work by the choreographer Christian Rizzo at the Avignon theater festival. It drew boos and catcalls. Other works, too, displeased the critics.

[agere_contra]

Imagine a series of shows so pretentious and outre that even the French walk out of them!

[Dolphan]

That's supposed to be art?!?

[Fenris6]

You can actually get a degree in Art, though I have no idea how/where they apply it. Anyone know any art/film/drama majors? Are there any standards for competency?

[martin_fierro]

It's like Cirque de Soleil on acid.

[OpusatFR]

You sure that isn't from the Clown Mass?

[martin_fierro]

Some guys have all the fun-nel.

[ErnBatavia]

A fat intern working with a fat Frog...

[Charles Henrickson]

Get a load of those cans!

[workerbee]

"sheer imposture, bloated by its own importance, and of unfathomable tedium."

Sounds like the perfect show for the French. Maybe they should have called it "Looking in a Mirror".

[Stultis]

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[OESY]

This story has legs!

[Billthedrill]

..."sheer imposture, bloated by its own importance, and of unfathomable tedium."

I'm sure a lot was lost in translation, but this seems to me to be just a little bit cranky...

[Disambiguator]

The Tin Man, as he would appear if born with severe congenital defects.

[sheik yerbouty]

M*rde alors!