ANAïS NIN ONE OF HER LIVES
Célia Catalifo
Laurent Maurel
ANAÏS NIN ONE OF HER LIVES
Wendy Beckett returned to the historic Athénée Theatre Louis–Jouvet in Paris to direct a reworking of her play ANAÏS NIN ONE OF HER LIVES for a limited season in March 2019.
Set in Paris in the 1930s this play traces the love triangle of Anais Nin, Henry Miller and his wife June. Like many artists of the era who travelled there in search of the aesthetic life -Paris offered an escape from their cultures and the confines of their morality. Paris was vibrant, romantic; everyone wanted to be there. Anais Nin is starting out as an author; Henry Miller is already well known. Anais must tread a difficult competitive path towards literary success. As a writer she seeks emotional intimacy with her reader yet paradoxically her prose only adds to her mystique.
CAST 2 women • 2 men
SETTING 1930s • Paris
Photos © 2019 Christine Coquilleau
Poster © 2019 Halcyon Pratt
“A sublime piece that illuminates the extraordinary destiny of a feminist artist ...
Wendy Beckett’s play makes us want to dive back into Anais Nin’s notebooks.”
“It’s been a long time since I had seen such a beautiful setting and such successful and sumptuous costumes. Visually too, it’s a treat.
This dramaturgical evocation of ‘one of the lives’ of Anais Nin is therefore a true and indisputable success.”
Laurent Maurel & Mathilde Libbrecht
Laurent Maurel & Célia Catalifo
“Célia Catalifo, Mathilde Libbrecht and Laurent Maurel are impressive in the roles of: Anaïs, June and Henry.
Wendy Beckett subtly shows us a sensual and amorous progression [where] we arrive at love scenes and sex scenes which are very intense, very successful.
Laurent d’Olce is amazing, especially in the last scene where the roles are reversed between the therapist and his patient. A magnificent transfer… We also experience d’Olce playing Anais Nins father and come to understand the crushing weight of the father in Anais Nin’s life..”
“The scene of reunion between father and daughter is of incredible poetry and power, at once pathetic and moving.
Laurent D’Olce is beautiful.
… particular mention to the love scenes, very successful, erotic ballets extremely well choreographed…”
Laurent D’Olce & Célia Catalifo
“If you only had to see one piece during the season
... do not let this one go, which is at the very top of what - on stage - can be presented to us.
Costumes as abundant as they are sumptuous combine elegance with character ...
Thanks to Wendy Beckett’s double talent as author and director, we will enter this world as passionate as it is exciting.”
Célia Catalifo & Laurent D’Olce
“On stage, these free, incredibly complex relationships, essential engines of writing, are drawn with class by a trio of actors full of energy, enthusiasm and determination.
Laurent Maurel offers an effervescent Miller… Mathilde Libbrecht draws June in relief, to make a beautiful character elusive bitch. Célia Catalifo in Anaïs Nin is a poem.”
Célia Catalifo & Laurent Maurel
“The contrasting elegance of the female costumes, the suppleness of the two actresses, the rhythm of the dialogues supported by the music all contribute to the charm of this evocation.”
Célia Catalifo & Mathilde Libbrecht
“The atmosphere of the 30s, the freedom and voluptuousness of a liberated generation, are ultimately very well realised and will delight the public of our time ...”
Laurent Maurel & Célia Catalifo
ANAÏS NIN UNE DE SES VIES
2019 l'Athénée Théâtre Louis–Jouvet Paris France