SACD - Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques
Entr'Actes
home
playwright database
News from Abroad
Translation Database
Playwrights Corner
In the Spotlight
New Plays in Print
Actes du théâtre Archives
 
 
Actes du théâtre :
newsletter
 
Site Map
 
[ français ]
 
 

Playwright database

 
     
La Sainte Catherine
Stéphan Wojtowicz
La Sainte Catherine
Photo DR - Didier Brice
Actes du théâtre n° 21.[ imprimer ]
1919. At a time when the Homeland, trying to be grateful for, has come up with the idea of putting a hero in the public square with a bayonet in one hand and a flag in the other, Private Plumet gets stuck with the job of being a one-footed model, the other one having been offered up at the Chemin des Dames. The great Gilbert Grancouraud, sure of himself and of his talent, will strive to create the ‘masterpiece.’ Captain Cazeaux, who has only seen war from afar – extremely far – bustles about in an attempt to maintain control of the situation. And Catherine is standing by…

“My soldier was coming back from Verdun, but the story would probably have been quite similar if he were returning from Normandy, Algeria, Bosnia, Irak or anywhere else.”
Stéphan Wojtowicz

“Stéphan Wojtowicz portrays mankind’s universality without disowning his legacy from Courteline. And his soldier returning from Verdun could just as easily be taking part in the Normandy invasion or trudging through the Iraqi desert.”
Marion Thébaud, Le Figaro, 10 February 2006

First staged at the Petit Théâtre de Paris, 20 January 2006.
Directors: José Paul and Agnès Boury. Sets: Édouard Laug.
Lighting: Laurent Béal. Costumes: Pascale Bordet. Cast: Didier Brice, Philippe Magnan, Caroline Maillard, Guillaume de Tonquédec.

Characters : 1 women - 3 men -
Éditions de l’Amandier (avec le soutien de «Beaumarchais»).

Grancouraud Isn’t that coat a bit small for you?
Plumet It’s all I could find. I can try pulling down on the sleeves if you like.
Grancouraud And push back that helmet. I can’t see your eyes.
Plumet Really?
Grancouraud No, I can’t see them! And a soldier who can’t see where he’s looking is a dead soldier. I’m sculpting a live soldier! Outlined and carved from the block! Strike that pose! Put your heart into it. You look like you’re headed for the slaughterhouse.
Plumet Really?
Grancouraud Stand up straight! Look inspired! No, not at the ceiling! Look down! Not that far! Not that far! No, not at your boots! Look up a bit. That’s it. Don’t move. Show me the face of a fighter.
Plumet Like this?
Grancouraud Don’t screw your face up like that, it looks like you’re wounded.
Plumet It’s true, I am wounded.
Grancouraud No!
Plumet But I really am.
Grancouraud I said no! Not here.
Plumet Would you like to see it?
Grancouraud No! Stop bugging me about that foot! Go on then! You’re fit as a fiddle! Ready to give the Germans the boot!
Plumet To give them the boot?
Grancouraud To kick them out! There! Good! Don’t move.
Catherine enters.
Plumet Sister.
Grancouraud Don’t move.
Catherine I forbid you to make him stand for too long.
Grancouraud Don’t worry.
Catherine Well I am worried.
Grancouraud Miss, allow me to explain something to you. In my field we suffer in giving birth, you see. This man’s wound is quite secondary.