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Grâce à mes yeux
Joël Pommerat

Marc Lador, Agnès Berthon, Pierre-Yves Chapalain - Photo : Isabelle Deffin

Actes du théâtre n° 16.

[ imprimer ]

A man lives a secluded life in the mountains with his son and wife, who is the same age as his mother. Considered the greatest comic actor in the world, he has been trying for several years to pass his art on to his son. To no avail…

“Joël Pommerat’s characters seem powerless over themselves. They wouldn’t think of rebelling and are resigned to accepting their fate guilelessly. They all have to deal with the issue of light at one time or another and are blinded by it. Only in the half-light can they catch a glimpse of each other.”
Jean-Louis Perrier, Le Monde, 14 December 2002
“…For Pommerat the truth is changing to say the least. The silence between words is often eloquent. Rather than establishing a psychological narrative, he creates first and foremost an atmosphere in an artistic gesture tinged with romanticism.”
Maïa Bouteillet, Libération, 2 December 2002

Opened at the Théâtre Paris-Villette, October 2002, then on tour.
Director: Joël Pommerat. Artistic advisor, Costumes: Marguerite Bordat. Lighting, Scenography: Éric Soyer. Sound: François Leymarie. Cast: Marc Lador, Saadia Bentaïeb, Agnès Berthon, Pierre-Yves Chapalain, Ruth Olaïzola, Marie Piemontese.

Characters : 3 women - 3 men -
Editions Actes Sud – Papiers.

Scene 5
Late afternoon. Behind the house. It’s slightly windy. A small stage has been set up in the middle
of a field. A curtain. A chair. Aymar is standing on the stage. The father is sitting a few yards away. Heavy atmosphere. Aymar is holding his head in his hands. Silence.
THE FATHER (standing up, slowly) Enough… You never get it right. You always shoot wide of the mark. How can it be? It’s as if you were trying not to succeed. You spend whole days complaining.
AYMAR (on stage) I know. I really wish…
THE FATHER Not hard enough apparently.
AYMAR But I do.
THE FATHER I don’t understand.
AYMAR I’ll never give up. Never.
THE FATHER Yesterday, just for a second, I caught a glimpse of what you could do someday if you really wanted to…
AYMAR (softly) I do want to…
THE FATHER But you didn’t persevere. You didn’t hold on… It can’t be, I thought. He’s doing it on purpose.
AYMAR (softly) Not at all.
THE FATHER Or else my son is simply incapable. I thought of a word. Much stronger than that. Which I’m ashamed to say. Ashamed to feel. I thought that… (a long silence) You see, I’m ashamed to acknowledge it. To admit it. Still, I think it would be a good thing for me to acknowledge it and for you to hear what your father feels inside at times, despite his love for you.
AYMAR Yes.
A beat.
THE FATHER (very sweetly) You’re my son. You come from me. I’ve given you everything. Everything I have is yours. I’ve given you everything. I’ve never loved anyone other than you. I’ve never loved women. I’ve always loved you. Even my profession. My art. Before you, I didn’t love it. Not really. Not the way I loved it when you came into my life. When I told myself that one day you’d take my place. That’s when I began to really love it.
AYMAR Yes, Dad.
THE FATHER (moved) I love you, son.
AYMAR (moved) I know, Dad. So do I.
A man walks by in the distance, as usual, and glances at the house. Aymar and his father turn
towards him. The man looks down and continues on his way. Blackout.