Theater: this is the war of Shakespeare in Avignon – Le Parisien

Thierry Dagger, our special correspondent in Avignon (Vaucluse) | 09 Jul 2015, 8:19 |. Update: 09 Jul 2015, 8:20

. Lars Eidinger plays Richard III, a misshapen and bloody prince who murders his whole family to gain power. Illustration. (. Arno Declair)

Olivier Py is not jealous: the Avignon Festival Director has scheduled together with his “King Lear” at the Palace of the Popes, a “Richard III” directed by German Thomas Ostermeier at the Opera. Two Shakespearean tragedies to 200 m from each other. Two mad kings who spread death around them, one involuntarily, the other very willingly.

And two shows that have people talking festivalgoers.

A “Richard III” rock. There is unanimous: a standing ovation every night welcomes the “Richard III” to Ostermeier. His Shakespeare to him sounds just perfectly, even in German surtitles. Between circus arena, metal scaffolding and micro camera suspended from the ceiling, it is halfway between a concert of Marilyn Manson and gladiatorial combat. Harnessed and vaulted, the charismatic Lars Eidinger embodies this misshapen and bloodthirsty prince who murders his whole family to gain power. From thunderous drum solos are shaking the Opera, blood spurts, sand splashes the front rows. And when Richard is haunted at night by the ghosts of his victims, one is paralyzed. ( Until July 18 to 18 hours at the Grand Opera Avignon. )

“King Lear” disaster. The opening night, violent boos (“Shame!”) Have clashed with applause. Undaunted, Olivier Py praised his actors with a smile. Nothing to cry foul, but found that “King Lear” grim. The new translation of Py is certainly bright and modern. But his scenography is disappointing – three fences, ugly neon lights on the background scene, a dirt circle dug under the tray – and the cast declaims too. In the role of the monarch who, sharing his kingdom among his three daughters and banning his most faithful servant, sow chaos, Philippe Girard laments from one end to the other and ends up in his underwear. The rejected son Edgar plays naked. All end up rolling in the land and be absorbed there. US too. ( Until July 13 at 22 pm at the Palais des Papes. )