Meeting with Moustafa Benaïbout, who tells us about the genesis of his creation Angelik, performed at the Théâtre La Loge on 15-16-17-18 May 2018.
A poetic creation
A poetic creationAngelik is a musical theatre set in Romania in 1989, a period of high political tension in the Balkans. Angelik falls from the sky and splits into two pieces. Her lower body lands in a Roma camp with Maria, a young woman rejected by her clan, and with Evgenia and Volo, orphaned siblings in search of a better life. The upper part of his body, meanwhile, is on the side of the military and the power then in the hands of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu. To survive, these two halves must feed on music.
The epic that Moustafa Benaïbout offers us is full of poetry and humor. Carried by talented actors, we subtly discover the stakes, the characters and we are hung on their lips to know how all these intrigues will overlap.
For a more detailed presentation of the work, read the brief: Angélik at the Théâtre La Loge this week.
A committed discourse
If a woman came from another planet, could she have papers? Moustafa Benaïbout
This is the question that the director asks himself and that nourished his reflection during the writing of this play. The resonance with the migratory context of our time is obvious. Maria symbolizes rejection at its climax: a Roma rejected by her camp, themselves rejected by their country, itself denigrated by the world. A hierarchical global racism where nationalities do not weigh the same weight…
This theme, dear to the author, was inspired by his many trips to Bulgaria. Fascinated by this country, its culture, its landscapes, he returns regularly for 4 years. One day, he was offered to spend some time in a camp for sedentary and autonomous Roma. He stayed there and discovered a new world, filled with music, which inspired his writing for Angelik.
A love story
Women are in the spotlight in Angelik. They embody the strong figures of the play: vigilantes, adventurers, real villains… Angelik is, meanwhile, a mute UFO, inspired by Lilou in the 5th element but very similar to the young dancer in Sia's clips. At the same time, to these roles of well-drawn women, we salute the work of troupe, choral and the beautiful listening between all the actors.
The focus is on women because this story was born thanks to Angélique, an unconfessed college love. Completely fantasized, Mustafa saw this girl as descended from another planet, inaccessible.
We attended the premiere of Angélik which, hopefully, will be replayed soon. The scenography, minimalist, as well as the musical parts could be improved with a little more time. Because Angelik was set up in just two weeks. All the ingredients are there to take this piece to the next level!
Angelik is perhaps the first part of a triptych of women's names, in homage to other hidden loves of Moustafa Benaïbout. We can't wait to see what's next!
