Ella, the sole 21st-century character, learns at the start that she is pregnant and, after losing consciousness, finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, grappling with family memories. She becomes Jeanne, her great-grandmother, who loses her daughter Rosa after divorce; Rosa, who undergoes an illegal abortion; and Zena, from another side of the family, who hemorrhages during the delivery of her son in Yemen.<\/p>\n
There is at times too much back story packed into this one-hour show, to the point that Ellas growth as a character remains limited. But Anis, who was named an associate playwright with the Thtre Grard Philipe in 2020, paints a vivid, often poetic picture of the womens shared trauma, both in her writing and onstage.<\/p>\n
Her ability to physically transform from scene to scene one minute a nearly feral presence with hair over her face, the next a shy young mother-to-be is a rare gift, and the director of The Monstrous Ones, her frequent collaborator Karim Hammiche, makes way for her to explore it freely.<\/p>\n
Hammiche joins her onstage for a few scenes, as Ellas doctor during her hospital stay, but this is very much Aniss show. For French high school students, it offered an opportunity to explore a darker, rarely discussed side of being a mother. Now, at long last, productions like The Monstrous Ones are playing in theaters again.<\/p>\n
Exit. Directed by Patrick Alluin. Thtre de la Huchette, through Aug. 28.<\/p>\n
The Monstrous Ones. Directed by Karim Hammiche. Thtre Grard Philipe. Further performances to be announced.<\/p>\n
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In Paris, Brexit Takes to the Stage - The New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ella, the sole 21st-century character, learns at the start that she is pregnant and, after losing consciousness, finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, grappling with family memories. She becomes Jeanne, her great-grandmother, who loses her daughter Rosa after divorce; Rosa, who undergoes an illegal abortion; and Zena, from another side of the family, who hemorrhages during the delivery of her son in Yemen. There is at times too much back story packed into this one-hour show, to the point that Ellas growth as a character remains limited Continue reading