As soon as you enter the theater at the Théâtre Armand in Salon, the spectator is immersed in an evocation of the world of the settlements. On the set, the multiple decor imagined by Antoine Milian seems covered in coal dust even in the interiors. In the background you can see the well. The elements made of wood and iron release a discreet metallic smell.
The solemn installation of the television set, “to follow the exploits of little Raymond“, finishes setting the spatio-temporal framework: the plot takes place in 1958 in Nœux-les-Mines, the birthplace of Raymond Kopa. In the vein ofFarewell Mr Haffmannof The Ortiz family or Small hairdresserr, Jean-Philippe Daguerre signs with Coal in the veinsa moving new text. Continuing his exploration of ordinary lives, he forcefully restores the extraordinary dimension of existences wrongly judged to be tiny.
“Just black faces”
Loyal friendship, true love, authentic passion make the seven characters unique. Steeped in humanity and popular common sense, the fathers temper the sons who take a dim view of the installation of a North African family in one of the small houses of the settlement: “At the bottom of the mine, there are no more bicots, no more polacks, no more ritals, just black faces“. One through trade unionism, the other through music, tried to “change the world“.
Carried by a text of remarkable accuracy and served by a brilliant interpretation, the message of tolerance, embodied by simple people, continues to infuse well beyond the curtain falls. At the time of greeting, Jean-Philippe Daguerre recalled the unwavering support provided by the Armand theater and its director.
It is true that in a few years, thanks to the wise selection of Denis Fabre, the director is among the “icons” of the Salon public who can discover his plays before their Paris tours. You can bet that the next creation will break his heart with Mariusscheduled for May.
Next show: “Les Misérables”, directed by Guy Simon, Tuesday January 21 at 7 p.m. Price from 17€ to 27€. Reservations: 04 90 56 00 82
