After a 12-year break (why?), the Castellada is back. This theatrical walk through the site of the Castle, created by the company Miranda to tell the story of the city, has been greatly missed. But let’s not mince words: Castellada-the return is pure wonder.
The staging is grandiose (it must be said that the site itself is not exactly a drawback!), with elegant writing, stunning costumes, and precise interpretations. All of this serves a purpose that rejects narrow provincialism in favor of expressing universal values, sometimes dramatic, often very funny, and always moving.
And what a pleasure it is during this long show (two and a half hours) to find many friends among the protagonists in the surrounding darkness. First of all “the boss” Thierry Surace as Professor Bédézange, zany and sententious, then Sylvia Scantamburlo, hilarious as a grouchy old Niçoise and flamboyant as Catherine Ségurane-Louise Michel. It is also a pleasure to meet Manon Ugo, one of Jean-Pierre Fouchy’s favorite actresses, exuding poised grace among her family fans. The talented cellist Marjolaine Alziari, spotted at Muriel Mayette-Holtz’s last week, enchanted us throughout the very elaborate musical journey of the show. As for Eddy Merkx of stage managers, Gaspard Bellet, my neighbor, he was in his element, talent, competence, and discretion.
But over the course of the minutes (and hours…), we were able, with Bernard, to appreciate Emma Audineau, Lucas Gimello, Mari-Laurile Lili, Thomas Santarelli, Marielle de Rocca Serra, Cécile Guichard, Jérome Schoof, Jérémy Lemaire, Jessica Astier, Julien Faure, Frédéric Rubio, and Dimitri Alexakis: an extremely homogeneous and utterly amazing cast.
Patrick Mottard
