In the ongoing saga, which for the past few months has animated the selection of the future management of the Théâtre National de Nice, quickly transforming into a confrontation between the deputy mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and the Minister of Culture, Aurélie Filippetti, a new episode has been added to the summer saga.
A staunch supporter of renewing Michel Benoin’s position (which is not possible following the rules, having already exceeded the mandate limit: four instead of three terms) through a partnership with actress Zabou Breitman, Christian Estrosi does not want to admit defeat against the institutional power of the Minister, who threatened to withdraw the CDN (National Drama Center) label from the TNN, along with the associated subsidy, which accounts for 35% of the annual revenue and without which the theater would certainly not be economically viable.
Having most likely failed in his attempt to bend the will of his governmental “rival” through a superior order from the Élysée, where he went to plead his case with François Hollande’s cultural advisor, and despite the petition organized by Daniel Benoin himself among his colleagues and friends (about forty signatories), which remained a symbolic gesture of solidarity and sympathy, Christian Estrosi has thus played his last card as a final asset, retreating flamboyantly and with a polemical tone to the Aventine by not validating a decision that risks being unfavorable to him and which is now imminent.
In fact, in a letter sent on Tuesday, July 23, to Aurélie Filippetti, summarizing all support arguments for his position, Christian Estrosi announced that “the city is withdrawing from any form of consultation” and “will not meet any candidates before the final choice.” “The ministry will thus choose the future director or director alone, and the city reserves the right to draw the consequences and conclusions in the short, medium, and long term,” he concludes.
So, Daniel Benoin, aged 65 and head of the TNN since 2002, is definitively out, being “out of criteria” at a time when the minister aims to rejuvenate, feminize, and renew the CDN network.
This is despite his undeniably positive record, which everyone acknowledges, while one might wonder why he wishes to remain, against all odds, in his position, arguing for the necessity of a smooth transition but actually giving the impression of wanting to cling to his role (incidentally, his running mate Zabou Breitman, solicited to present her candidacy alone, refused to do so: Solidarity with a colleague or admission of inadequacy?).
For now, three candidacies have been preselected: those of Irina Brook, Frédéric Bélier-Garcia, and the tandem Simon Abkarian/Ariel Goldenberg.
The question to ask is: What will the elected official do, and how will he proceed knowing that he will find a closed door on the city’s side with Daniel Benoin, who, wisely, has already settled in Antibes as artistic director of the new Anthéa theater, where he will certainly be eager to take revenge on the new occupant who took “his” place?
What is certain is that more than a battle of power and interests, this time we should be talking about a war of egos. Logically, it might be entirely legitimate and even humanly understandable to “give and receive,” but here, it is evident that the main element was not really in the general interest.
It was known that artists and show people have an obvious permeability towards the “me-myself,” and this time we discover that male and female politicians are just as skilled at imitating them.
Is it really a surprise? In fact, politics has become a great show, so why be surprised if those who are part of the cast behave like capricious divas?
As for the TNN, well, we’re in Nice, where one of the local cuisine’s favorite dishes is the salad… niçoise, of course!
