Playing theater to start the year off right, “it’s part of winter, and part of our lives”

In winter, in Sundgau (Haut-Rhin), theater is played. For several decades, two troupes have performed from mid-January. It’s the final stretch, and despite the nerves that lie ahead, a pleasure that no actor would give up.

Get together with friends, have fun, stick together, take on new challenges and overcome stage fright. The motivations of the amateur actors who, year after year, put on plays in Alsatian in their village, are multiple. And the hours they devote to it, incalculable.

The Burnhaupt-le-Haut Theater Troupe is preparing “Heilazer, Ruppaschisser un co.”, a play by Alphonse Glock, already given a few years ago in Scherwiller. The troupe of the Alsatian Theater of Helfrantzkirch invites you to a cruise on “S’Trauimschiff” (the dream boat), a play by Sundgauvian Claude Hermann.

Both groups have been working on it for months. At the beginning of January, a few days before the premiere, it is a matter of refining the work. And the stress mounts.

In the village hall, Carré Martin Studer, the stage is already set. Paintings on the walls, sofa and dining area. “This time, it’s a more classic decorrecognizes Fabienne Ramis, the president of the troop. Sometimes it’s more original. Last year, we played in a laboratory setting…”

But the title of the piece, a little cryptic, is not classic. “Antoine Heilazer (lizard) is a modest employee in a company that sells “Luller” (pacifiers) imported from China, states the plot summary. His wife Mireille, née Rupaschisser (caterpillar borer)dreams of setting up a multinational that would itself manufacture “Luller” made in France.”

Add to that a story of misplaced pajamas, as well as a good dose of self-deprecation from fifty-somethings ready to play post-teen roles, and the ingredients are there to guarantee a good dose of cramps to your zygomatics.

For several years, the small troupe of seven actors has been working without a director. “We don’t have any more, and it works pretty well like that, believes Fabienne Ramis. Everyone gives their idea, and some even have a lot… To start, we read the booklet two or three times, and off we go.” A task made easier by the fact that, except this year when the room was under construction, they have access to the stage from the start of rehearsals, in October, and can immediately work on placements, entrances and exits.

The only particularity of the troupe: for years, there has been a large majority of women. But the two men are faithful among the faithful, having been present for more than 35 years. Eric Schlienger, jacket and bow tie, takes on the role of daddy’s boy with relish. “My father is a bank manager, and I know one of the daughters of this family who wants to make “Luller”, he reveals. I go, I come, I look… But I don’t have a central role, those are played by women.”

However, Fabienne Ramis continues to recruit women. Sylvie Schaeffer, the latest arrival, is a little upset because it’s the first year she’s playing. “It puts pressure on meshe admits. Originally from the village, I had lived elsewhere since 1976. But on the first day of my return, Fabienne knocked on my door: ‘You’re from Burnhaupt, so you have to play. Otherwise we won’t be able to put on the play!’ Even though I told him I’d never done that… We’ll see if I pass out at the premiere.”

Sabine Schlosser joined the troupe three years ago. “I like to do stupid things in life, she explains. I told them to Fabienne, who was my hairdresser. And she insisted: ‘You have to participate! You have to play!’ So I tried, first with a small role, and the following year, with a more important role. And there, I play the daughter of the family, who is 18 years old.”

During this last week, it’s the countdown. And as is often the case in these cases, “Things that used to run on their own no longer work” deplores Fabienne Ramis. But she remains philosophical: “We always got through it. Stage fright stimulates us. And then the public will boost us.”

“Heilazer, Ruppaschisser a co” will be played

Saturday January 18 and Saturday January 25 at 8:15 p.m., and Sunday January 19 at 2:30 p.m.

at Carré Martin Studer, 28 rue Binnen in Burnhaupt-le-Haut.

In the multipurpose hall of Helfrantzkirch, the stage was transformed into the deck of a liner. To take spectators sailing on the Mediterranean. But with passengers a little overexcited, and a crew caring for them, and ready to do tons, nothing will go as planned.

The dozen actors have a field day. Among the deans, Marie-Rose Troendlé and Monique Runser, who introduce themselves: “We are both from the village, we were at school together, we did theater together, we stopped, and for twenty years, we started again. Together.”

Their motivation? “Immerse yourself in someone else’s life”, for Monique Runser. “It’s a little virus that we don’t get rid of easily, recognizes her friend. We inherited it from our parents, they too were already playing.“

It seems that in Helfrantzkirch, theater is often a family affair, which sticks with you. This is also the case for Christelle Rapp, who supervises the management and staging, a position that her uncle exercised before her. And at the same time, for 40 years, she has also been on stage.

“I started at 14she says. One day, I was asked to play… Well no, I wasn’t asked, they just stuck the text in my hands, saying: ‘This year, you are participating.’”Looking back, she realizes that there was something “paradoxical” in this injunction, because until then, his parents spoke to him mainly in French. But despite this somewhat forced and forced start, she never stopped.

“My father played, and my uncle was the stage manager, so I had no choice, she admits. But afterwards, it became a pleasure, we made friends in the association. It’s part of my life, and of every winter. And when my uncle died six years ago, someone had to take over, otherwise everything would have stopped.”

At each performance, she juggles between the stage and “playing the conductor”. Because behind the scenes. it is the whole troupe which ensures management. “Everyone takes care of the light and sound a little. And it’s sometimes a bit sporty.” For each gesture to perform, each button to turn, each music to trigger, Christelle listed the names. “But we stick together, she assures. Everyone helps the other, and it works.” And his own children, young adults, are also taking part in the adventure.

Aimé Schmitt, Christelle’s right-hand man, helps her choose the pieces and he is the one who adapts them if necessary. “It’s sometimes a little complicatedhe admits. We’re a group with a lot of actors, and none of them want to give up playing.” You must therefore find the parts accordingly. “We have already performed pieces from Germany or Switzerland,” and if necessary, he transcribes them into Sundgau Alsatian.

The other objective is to do everything to ensure succession. “We strive to attract younger people, so that our roots are not lostconfides Aimé Schmitt. Because there is nothing more beautiful than our Alsatian dialect.”

For this purpose, Christelle Rapp first created a small troupe of children, who presented a small show at the beginning of the evening, sketches and songs. But for several years, children and adolescents have been playing in the same room as adults. And this time, of course, they take on the roles of mousses.

“This year we really started playing. Last year and two years ago we were just extrassays Faustine Freitag. But since we were little, we have been there, with the adults.” – “When we weren’t playing, we were behind the scenes,” adds Camille, the youngest. The troop, “It’s a bit like our second family, we’ve known them forever” concludes Faustine. Family, always.

But this large family of Alsatians from Sundgau does not hesitate to integrate members from outside. Even if for a non-dialectophone, the task can be difficult. “There was one person missing to play a role, and I couldn’t refuse this offerlaughs Carole Carrey. At first, I didn’t know if it was a challenge or suicide.”

Because not only did she, like the others, have to memorize her text, but she also had to integrate its meaning and, above all, the pronunciation. “I had to work on the à, the ù, the ì, all these intonations that are not at all natural for someone who doesn’t speak the dialect, she explains. Christelle made the recordings for me, and I spent a lot of my time with the written texts and an iPod, and I rehearsed while cooking, ironing, brushing my teeth… So I hope that people will understand what I’m saying. And that I won’t sink the cruise ship.”

The show S’Trauimschìff will still be performed at the multipurpose hall of Helfrantzkirch, 1 rue Principale

Saturday 18, Saturday 25, Friday January 31 and Saturday February 1 at 8 p.m.

Sunday January 19 at 2:45 p.m. and Sunday January 26 at 2:15 p.m.

reservation possible on 07 70 27 00 76