Theatre: Minetti

Minetti, a late work by Thomas Bernhard, depicts a solitary journey where shadow and light, death and life intertwine. The precise and humor-tinged writing of the Austrian author makes it a fable both comic and tragic, blending comedy and dramatic depth.

The story takes place on New Year's Eve 1975, in the lobby of a grand hotel in Ostend. A man enters, introducing himself as Minetti. He claims to be a famous actor who has renounced the stage for thirty years, rejecting classical literature. He says he once directed a theatre from which he was expelled and has been rehearsing in front of his mirror, waiting for one last offer: to play King Lear. That evening, on the occasion of his former theatre's jubilee, the director has arranged to meet him to offer this long-awaited role.

Matthieu Cruciani's direction enriches the play by adding a musical dimension, featuring pianist Jeanne Bleuse and actress-singer Élise Caron. The performance by Josse de Pauw, a talented Belgian actor, transforms this text into an intense, moving, and timeless theatrical moment, suitable for ages 14 and up.