• From Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2010 - 20h30
• Saturday 20 February 2010 - 15h00
• Saturday 20 February 2010 - 20h30

A Japanese adaptation of Par-dessus bord

Par dessus bord [Overboard] portays the human and social mess within a French family business bought over by an American multinational corporation.

In true Michel Vinaver style, the play surfs with panache on the waves of humour and tells truths. Oriza Hirata entrusts Arnaud Meunier with the stage direction, and adapts the play to the current situation in his country. The family business, bought over by a French company, is therefore Japanese. The characters' behaviour change very little, but it no longer is the intrusion of a Jew that causes a reaction of rejection, but that of a Rwandan, "a man who also escaped from slaughter. I had considered a Hiroshima survivor, but the issue is different. Added to that, back home we see Blacks so seldom that they're often in a difficult position whereas we don't pay attention to Jews". The Japanese films shown in Europe sometimes tackle this sort of theme, but on the stage it is rarely addressed. Hirata is a special case: his theatre is in the private sector, therefore he enjoys a large degree of freedom, and treats subjects that question everyday behaviours. About Hirata,Vinaver declares: "He is my brother".

Colette Godard