A game that touches the « goal »

How can a simple game of pétanque turn into opposition and the settlement of memories? Challenge a pied-noir, a Frenchman born to Algerian parents, a « native » Provençal and a newly arrived Parisian. Their common denominator? A filial link with the Algerian war. Suddenly, the words will loosen despite the silence that this game imposes. From one word to another, it is the evils of the past that will resurface on this ground that unites and brings them together. Result? Through the scoring of the points, their clash will extend into their history. Each will « shoot » his suffering, his exile wounds. Everyone will « point out » their origins, their uprooting, their loss of identity, their resentments. Everyone will « add » their truth to it. Arguments, jokes, hugging reproaches, all “throws” will be allowed.

Through this play, Philippe Chuyen felt the need « to show that a fair work of memory can constitute a weapon of appeasement in the face of memory battles which are often sources of hatred and identity conflicts. Depassionate the debate, that is what attaches to making the play « , through its four protagonists. Beyond « defending the point » and aiming for the « diamond », they will still be keen, in the name of memory and forgiveness, to finish this game of pétanque.

« Les pieds tanqués, when memories collide », a dramatic comedy written and directed by Philippe Chuyen which is based on historical facts – A game of petanque of 1h15 which becomes a game of verbal jousting in the sauce Provençal, mixing seriousness and humor – With Thierry Paul (Loule, the “native” Provençal), Philippe Chuyen (Monsieur Blanc, the Parisian), Gérard Dubouche (Zé, the pied-noir) and Mourad Tahar Boussatha (Yaya, the French from Algerian immigration) – At the Théâtre Douze (Parus XIIème) from September 24 to October 11 from Thursday to Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. (outside on the bowling alley) – Reservations: 01 44 75 60 32 –http://www.theatredouze.fr

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Daphne VICTOR

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