A rhino called Clara, a pest mime, a rubber glove hunter! Such is the iconoclastic, absurd and quirky universe of Henry Le Bal and his new piece entitled “The Forgotten Characters”. Behind the seemingly comical situations, the playwright depicts a parallel world where find themselves on the stage of a small theater, the one where they were performed for the last time, an endearing gallery of characters forgotten by the public and by posterity. An original theme for those who have accustomed us more to biblical allegories  Corcovaël, The Crypt or the Death of Joseph or even LA PENICHE. Poet, novelist and playwright, Henry Le Bal is the author of twenty books. "After 30 years of tragedies, I find myself in a light role on the edge of the comic" explains not without irony the author of the disheveled and hairy play. On stage, five actors including the famous Monsieur, Monsieur, the guardian of the tower of works, magnificently interpreted by Philippe de Brugada, who no longer really knows what he is doing there, on this stage that he does not recognize, metaphorical and terrifying antechamber of an elsewhere that looks like the afterlife. Sometimes a dancer, sometimes a pantomime, but above all a frenzied spur of the text by Henry le Bal, he crosses the play's crescendo with lightness, depth and accuracy, accompanied by a troupe of experienced and promising actors.

Miss loulou

Foremost among which is Mademoiselle Loulou, played by the young and talented Juliette Raynal, who excels in her role as a nude model abandoned by painters, a sort of loyal young lady from the little theater of forgotten characters. A skin-deep sensitivity, which makes her all at the same time, mischievous, mischievous, a tad cheeky and spontaneously maternal with the latest arrivals completely confused. The essential feminine element of this crazy theater which in some ways resembles us and could well be the inverted mirror of our souls and our earthly certainties. Alan Sorano, who also provides a masterful staging, resolutely plays the card of the grotesque and the absurd. With frenzied enthusiasm and communicative energy, he encamped in turn a pest mimic, a Scottish knight and an enigmatic tourist, the embodiment of modern-day evil. Like a perfect chameleon actor, his protean presence at key moments in the play is a real find and also a success. She gives good humor, rhythm and depth to this intelligent, playful and never vulgar piece. The author of the play Henry Le Bal has reserved two roles for himself. He oscillates with empathy and humor between the character of Mathurin, touching manager of the chimeras and the anguishes of Monsieur, Monsieur and the completely unexpected and zany one of the rubber glove hunter! A character straight out of Tati's universe who would also be steeped in words. "In our different creations, it is important for the author to act to know what an actor is" emphasizes Henry Le Bal.

The inevitable oblivion

The enigmatic appearance of Stéphane di Napoli as a slayer of bad vibes perfectly completes this strange picture of characters relegated to oblivion. “There is no message. What we want is to make people happy. With the troop, we carry out an in-depth, non-subsidized, old-fashioned, almost artisanal work ” explains the director of the Compagnie du Parvis again. How will it end, is forgetting in the end for all of us inevitable, is there a glimmer of hope for Monsieur, Monsieur, Loulou, Mathurin and the pest controler? If you only have one evening to spend in Paris, run quickly to Île Saint Louis to see this astonishing play, performed by talented actors with an exacerbated troupe spirit, Les Personnages Forgiés…

Morvan YANN

Île Saint-Louis Theater (until December 11)
39 quai d'Anjou, 75004 Paris

Friday and Saturday at 18 p.m.
Sunday at 15 p.m.

Rate : 15-10 €
Reservation: +01 (46)33 48 65 XNUMX XNUMX

Henri Le Bal's blog: http://henrylebal.over-blog.com