Artaud's "The Cenci"

Author(s): Hilary Cohen

Source: The Drama Review: TDR, Vol. 26, No. 2, Intercultural Performance (Summer, 1982),
pp. 132-135
Published by: The MIT Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1145436
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132 THE DRAMA REVIEW/T94
Ar t a u d ' s Th e C e n c i
by Hi la r y
C oh e n
An t on i n Ar t a u d ' s Th e
C e n c i ,
d i r e c t e d
by Ja c qu e s Ba i llon ,
wa s
pr od u c e d by
t h e Od e on
Na t i on a l Th e a t e r i n
c o-ope r a t i on
wi t h t h e C ome d i e Fr a n c a i s e i n Pa r i s . Ba i llon
s ou gh t
t o
r e a li ze t h e
pr od u c t i on
va lu e s of Ar t a u d ' s
or i gi n a l pi e c e ,
wi t h
pa r t i c u la r e mph a s i s
on t h e
ba r oqu e
wor ld of Ar t a u d ' s
c on c e pt . Alt h ou gh
t h e r e we r e s ome mi n or a lt e r a t i on s t o Ar t a u d ' s
t e xt ,
t h e
s i gn i fi c a n t
d i ffe r e n c e s be t we e n t h e t wo
pr od u c t i on s la y
i n t h e i r
s t a gi n g.
Th e
s u r fa c e of Ba i llon ' s
pr od u c t i on
wa s s moot h e r a n d
s i mple r
t h a n Ar t a u d ' s : a mor e u n i fi e d
d e s i gn c on c e pt ,
fe we r s e t a n d
pr ope r t y pi e c e s ,
fe we r
s old i e r s , s e r va n t s , pr oc e s s i on s
a n d
le s s
pa ge a n t r y,
a n d a
s h a r pe r
foc u s on t h e
ps yc h ologi c a l d i s i n t e gr a t i on
of t h e ma i n
c h a r a c t e r s .
Th e
pr od u c t i on
wa s
s t a ge d
a t t h e Od e on
Th e a t e r ,
a
s ma ll,
fa i r ly
or n a t e
t h ou gh wor n ,
ba r oqu e
t h e a t e r on t h e le ft ba n k of Pa r i s . Th e Od e on s e a t s a bou t 600
pe ople
i n a h ou s e
c on s i s t i n g
of a ma i n floor
r i n ge d by
s ma ll boxe s a n d t wo s e mi -c i r c u la r
u ppe r
t i e r s wi t h
mor e e la bor a t e boxe s ove r t h e
s t a ge .
Th e
s t a ge s pa c e
wa s
a r r a n ge d
li ke a
h i gh -Re n a i s s a n c e pa i n t i n g.
Th e
pr os c e n i u m
a r c h
pr ovi d e d
a fr a me for a
s t e e ply
r a ke d
s t a ge
floor a n d a n a r c h i t e c t u r a l
s e t t i n g
of
s oa r i n g
c olu mn s wi t h a
la r ge
s t a i r c a s e bu i lt i n t o t h e le ft s i d e . Th e r e a r of t h e
s e t t i n g
wa s le ft
ope n
for c lou d a n d
li gh t pr oje c t i on s .
Th e
a s s yme t r y
c r e a t e d
by
t h e
s t a ge -le ft
s t a i r c a s e a n d t h e
s t r on g d i a gon a l
li n e s of mu c h of t h e
pla yi n g
on a n d a r ou n d i t
ga ve
a ma n n e r i s t
e d ge
t o
t h e
pi c t u r e .
At t h e fr on t le ft of t h e
s t a ge
wa s a n
ope n
s t a i r we ll
le a d i n g
be low t h e
s t a ge .
At t h e ba c k
r i gh t
wa s a
h u ge
wood e n wh e e l s e t h a lf
wa y
on t o t h e
s t a ge .
Th e wh e e l s e r ve d
bot h fu n c t i on a l a n d
s ymboli c
r ole s i n t h e
pr od u c t i on .
It wa s t h e wh e e l of
for t u n e ,
a
s ymbol
of
powe r s
ou t s i d e h u ma n
c on t r ol,
of
fa t e ,
a n d a
fu n c t i on i n g pi e c e
of
s t a ge a ppa r a t u s
t h a t
r a i s e d a n d lowe r e d t h e
t r a ps .
A wh e e l of s i mi la r s i ze wa s u s e d i n Ar t a u d ' s
pr od u c t i on
a s
a n i t e m of t or t u r e i n t h e
pr i s on
s c e n e bu t wa s n ot a
pe r ma n e n t
fe a t u r e of t h e
s e t t i n g.
Th e
i mpr e s s i on
of t h e
s t a ge pi c t u r e
a s a Re n a i s s a n c e
pa i n t i n g
wa s fu r t h e r e n h a n c e d
by
t h e
c os t u me s ,
wi t h t h e i r a t t e n t i on t o
pe r i od
d e t a i l a n d t h e
wa y
t h e fa br i c s
move d , t h i c k,
volu pt u ou s fold s , e xpa n s i ve c loa ks ,
ya r d s
of ma t e r i a l
d r a pi n g, flowi n g, flyi n g.
Th e
s t a ge
pi c t u r e
wa s
pa i n s t a ki n gly c ompos e d
a t a ll t i me s . Ea c h n e w s c e n e or fr e e ze wi t h i n a s c e n e
wa s li ke a
pa i n t i n g
t h a t
s u d d e n ly e r u pt e d
i n t o move me n t . Th i s
pa r t i c u la r pr od u c t i on qu a li t y
wa s c a lle d for i n Ar t a u d ' s
s t a ge
d i r e c t i on s .
Th e
a c t i n g s t yle
wa s
fla mboya n t , ph ys i c a l,
a n d
s c h i zoph r e n i c : la r ge , s we e pi n g
a n d
oft e n vi ole n t
move me n t s ,
fr e qu e n t
a n d u n a c c ou n t a ble mood
c h a n ge s ,
a n d d i s s oc i a t i on
of
d i a log, ge s t u r e
a n d mood . C h a r a c t e r i za t i on s oft e n
ve r ge d
on t h e
i n h u ma n ,
s ome t i me s
me c h a n i c a l or
ma n n e qu i n -li ke
a n d ot h e r t i me s mor e li ke for c e s t h a n
pe ople .
Se xu a l c u r -
r e n t s we r e a ls o
e xplor e d . Alt h ou gh
C e n c i ' s i n c e s t wi t h Be a t r i c e wa s t h e
c a t a lyt i c
a c t i on
of t h e
pla y,
ot h e r fa mi li a l
pa i r i n gs
we r e
s u gge s t e d : mot h e r -d a u gh t e r , mot h e r -s on ,
br ot h e r -
s i s t e r .
Wh e n t h e
pla y be ga n ,
C ou n t C e n c i wa s
lou n gi n g
a t t h e
t op
of t h e
s t a i r s ,
h i s s le e ve s
s pr e a d
ou t li ke
gi a n t
bi r d
wi n gs .
C a mi llo,
a
pr i e s t , s we pt
i n fr om t h e ba c k of t h e
s t a ge
a n d
be ga n t a lki n g
t o C e n c i wi t h ou t
s e e i n g
h i m. Th e i r
e xc h a n ge be ga n c i vi lly
bu t
e r u pt e d
i n t o vi ole n c e , C e n c i
c h a s i n g
t h e
pr i e s t
a n d
pi n n i n g
h i m t o t h e s t a i r s . At t h e e n d of t h e
s c e n e , C e n c i ,
fu r i ou s wi t h t h e
Pope
for
d e ma n d i n g
s ome of h i s la n d t o
e xpi a t e
t h e s i n
of h i s la t e s t
mu r d e r ,
c a me t o t h e
e d ge
of t h e
s t a ge
a n d
d i r e c t ly
a d d r e s s e d t h e a u d i e n c e
i n
lou d ,
s t r i d e n t t on e s . As h e fi n i s h e d
s pe a ki n g,
h e r e a c h e d i n t o a s ma ll wood e n c h e s t
Th e
s t a ge
s e t of Th e C e n c i ,
pr od u c e d by
t h e Od e on Na t i on a l
Th e a t r e i n Pa r i s
a t t h e c e n t e r of t h e
s t a ge
a n d t h r e w t h r e e h a n d fu ls of c oi n s
h i gh
i n t o t h e a i r . Th e s ou n d
of t h e c oi n s
fa lli n g pu n c t u a t e d
t h e s i le n c e
followi n g
C e n c i ' s ou t bu r s t . Th i s a c t i on
r e pla c e d
Ar t a u d ' s
s t a ge
d i r e c t i on t h a t i n d i c a t e s C e n c i s h ou ld d r a w h i s s wor d a n d s t r i ke "a vi ole n t
blow on a
gon g."
Th e
c h e s t ,
r e fe r r e d t o
fr e qu e n t ly
a n d
s ymboli zi n g
C e n c i ' s we a lt h a n d
pr ope r t y,
wa s
pr e s e n t
on t h e
s t a ge
u n t i l h i s mu r d e r .
As C e n c i le ft t h e
s t a ge ,
a woma n s e r va n t
a ppe a r e d , s i n gi n g
a
me la n c h oly s on g
a c c ompa n i e d by
a r e c or d e r . Sh e
pi c ke d u p
t h e
c h e s t ,
move d i t t o t h e le ft c or n e r of t h e
s t a ge ,
a n d e xi t e d
s lowly
a s i f i n a t r a n c e .
Be a t r i c e ,
C e n c i ' s
d a u gh t e r ,
a n d
Or s i n o,
a
pr i e s t
wi t h wh om s h e h a s be e n i n
love ,
e n t e r e d .
Th e y s poke
i n
qu i e t , e s t r a n ge d
t on e s .
Be a t r i c e ,
wh o wa s s e a t e d on t h e floor wi t h h e r
le gs d a n gli n g
i n t o t h e
s t a i r we ll,
be a t h e r fe e t
r h yt h mi c a lly a ga i n s t
t h e s i d e of t h e
s t a ge t h r ou gh ou t
t h e i r
e xc h a n ge .
Th e
followi n g
s c e n e ,
a n a d d i t i on t o Ar t a u d ' s
s c r i pt ,
wa s
pla ye d
wi t h ou t
d i a log.
A
s t r a n ge r a ppe a r e d
a t t h e ba c k of t h e
s t a ge c a r r yi n g
a s a d d le ove r h i s s h ou ld e r . As h e
a ppe a r e d ,
a t on a l
mu s i c ,
wi t h a
s t r on g
s e n s e of
u r ge n c y,
wa s
pla ye d
on t wo
pi a n os .
Th e
ma n , Gi a c omo,
e xi le d s on of
C e n c i , pla c e d
t h e s a d d le on t h e floor d own c e n t e r a n d
r e t u r n e d
u p r i gh t
t o t h e wh e e l. He
be ga n
t o
s pi n i t ;
a s h e d i d
s o,
be lls a n d
gon gs
we r e
a d d e d t o t h e
pi a n o
mu s i c . He move d t o t h e
s a d d le , pi c ke d
i t
u p,
a n d e xi t e d
t h r ou gh
t h e
s t a i r we ll. At t h e s a me t i me , C e n c i
r e a ppe a r e d
wi t h a wi n e
goble t .
He
c a s u a lly
t ook a
r ope
fr om t h e wh e e l a n d a t t a c h e d i t t o a h ook on t h e floor . As h e le a n e d ba c k a n d
la u gh e d
wi ld ly,
t h e
gon gs
a n d be lls i n t e n s i fi e d a n d s moke bi llowe d a c r os s t h e
s t a ge , e n gu lfi n g
i t
e n t i r e ly
i n a ma t t e r of s e c on d s .
Th r ou gh
t h e
s moke ,
a
ba n qu e t
t a ble r os e
e e r i ly
wi t h t h e
fi gu r e s
a t i t fr oze n a s i n a
pa i n t i n g.
134 THE DRAMA REVIEW/T94
In a n
i n s t a n t ,
t h e
fi gu r e s
bu r s t i n t o move me n t a n d a
s t yli ze d or gy be ga n .
Th i s
ba n qu e t
s c e n e , for e s h a d owi n g
C e n c i ' s i n c e s t wi t h
Be a t r i c e , ju xt a pos e d
fr e n zi e d move me n t wi t h
i n t e n s e i n t e r a c t i on s be t we e n C e n c i a n d Be a t r i c e . As t h e
gu e s t s
d i s c ove r e d t h e
pa r t y
wa s
a
t r a p, t h e y
r a n
fr a n t i c a lly
ba c k a n d for t h a c r os s t h e
s t a ge ,
t h e i r move me n t s
be c omi n g
s t i ff a n d
pu ppe t -li ke . Th e y
fr oze s e ve r a l t i me s i n
c a r e fu lly c ompos e d gr ou ps . Du r i n g
t h i s
a c t i on ,
li ke a fi lm
be i n g
s t a r t e d a n d
s t oppe d ,
C e n c i a n d Be a t r i c e move d t owa r d e a c h ot h e r
a s i f d r a wn
by
for c e s ou t s i d e t h e ms e lve s .
Th r ou gh ou t
t h e s c e n e a
la r ge
bu ll' s h e a d s a t
on t h e
ba n qu e t
t a ble .
Th e bu ll' s h e a d
r e a ppe a r e d
i n t h e n e xt s c e n e . Be a t r i c e bu r s t i n t o h e r mot h e r ' s r oom
s e e ki n g r e fu ge
fr om h e r fa t h e r . Lu c r e t i a a n d
Be r n a r d o, Be a t r i c e ' s mot h e r a n d
s t e p-br ot h e r ,
we r e i n i n t i ma t e c on ve r s a t i on . Be a t r i c e t h r e w h e r s e lf d own a n d fe ll
i mme d i a t e ly
i n t o a
d r e a m s t a t e . As s h e wr i t h e d on t h e
floor ,
t wo
s h a d owy fi gu r e s a ppe a r e d
i n h e r d r e a m.
Th e y
t u r n e d ou t t o be t h e mu t e a s s a s s i n s Be a t r i c e wou ld la t e r h i r e t o ki ll h e r fa t h e r . On e
wor e a bla c k
bli n d fold ;
t h e ot h e r c a r r i e d t h e bu ll' s h e a d . Be a t r i c e a woke fr om h e r d r e a m
a n d fr oze i n t e r r or a t t h e s ou n d of a kn oc k. Wh e n s h e d i s c ove r e d i t wa s
on ly
h e r mot h e r ' s
ma i d ,
s h e
be ga n
t o
la u gh h ys t e r i c a lly.
Ar t a u d ' s
s t a ge
d i r e c t i on
s u gge s t s on ly
t h a t t h e
a c t r e s s c a lm d owm. Wh i le Be a t r i c e
la u gh e d ,
C e n c i
e n t e r e d ,
a n d Be r n a r d o a n d Be a t r i c e
d a r t e d a bou t t h e
s pa c e
li ke h u n t e d a n i ma ls be for e t h e i r fa t h e r d i s mi s s e d t h e m.
Ne xt we r e t wo s h or t s c e n e s
pla ye d
wi t h ou t
d i a log.
In t h e
fi r s t ,
t wo
pr i e s t s plot t e d
C e n c i ' s d e a t h wi t h Gi a c omo i n d u mb s h ow.
Be lls ,
gon gs ,
a n d
pi a n o a c c ompa n i e d
t h e
a c t i on , a mpli fi e d
t o a n a lmos t
t h u n d e r i n g
le ve l. Ar t a u d ' s t e xt wa s u s e d
on ly
for t h e s c e n a r i o.
In t h e s e c on d a d d i t i on t o t h e
t e xt ,
C e n c i a n d Be a t r i c e we r e r a i s e d on a
t r a p
fr om
be low t h e
s t a ge t h r ou gh mi s t y li gh t .
As C e n c i c a r e s s e d t h e
r i gi d bod y
of h i s
d a u gh t e r ,
a s e c on d Be a t r i c e
a ppe a r e d
on
s t a ge
a n d
s lowly
wa lke d a r ou n d t h e
pa i r .
Sh e wa s a
d e t a c h e d
vi e we r ,
s h a r i n g
n on e of t h e r e vu ls i on of h e r
c ou n t e r pa r t .
C e n c i s t a r e d i n
d i s be li e f,
a n d t h e s c e n e we n t bla c k.
Be a t r i c e r e -e n t e r e d a lmos t
i mme d i a t e ly,
r u s h e d a c r os s t h e
s t a ge
a n d t h r e w h e r s e lf
on t h e floor . t h e bu ll' s h e a d wa s n ow t i e d t o h e r ba c k. It r e ma i n e d t h e r e u n t i l C e n c i ' s
mu r d e r . In a
vi ole n t ly
e mot i on a l
s c e n e ,
Be a t r i c e i n for me d t h e r e s t of h e r
fa mi ly
a n d t h e
c le r gy
t h a t h e r fa t h e r h a d vi ola t e d h e r a n d me a n t t o i n c a r c e r a t e t h e
fa mi ly
i n a n old
for t r e s s . Th e
plot
t o a s s a s s i n a t e C e n c i wa s fi n a li ze d .
A fi e r c e s t or m wa s t h e n c r e a t e d
by
c a s t me mbe r s a n d t h e mu s i c i a n s .
Gr ou pe d
a t
t h e ba c k of t h e
s t a ge ,
t h e c a s t me mbe r s wa ve d s t r e a me r s a t t a c h e d t o
s t i c ks ,
ma d e
h i s s i n g
a n d
wh i s t li n g
s ou n d s a n d
be ga n
t o c h a n t C e n c i ' s
n a me ,
a ll t o i n s t r u me n t a l
a c c ompa n i me n t .
Th e a s s a s s i n s
s pu n
on a n d off t h e
s t a ge
li ke
t ops .
A s h ot s i le n c e d t h e s t or m bu t t h e
a s s a s s i n s r e t u r n e d i n
s h a me , h a vi n g
mi s s e d . Be a t r i c e bou n d t h e a r ms of t h e a s s a s s i n s
i n bla c k c lot h s t r e a me r s a n d
pla c e d
a
d a gge r
i n on e h a n d of e a c h . Aft e r
fa i li n g ye t a ga i n ,
t h e y
r u s h e d
pa s t
Be a t r i c e a n d Lu c r e t i a i n t e r r or a s a
gr e a t
r oa r fr om C e n c i
s i gn i fi e d
h i s
d e a t h .
In a
t e r r i fyi n g
mome n t , Be a t r i c e t or e t h e bu ll' s h e a d off h e r ba c k a n d
be ga n
t o e a t
i t s br a i n s i n
h u ge , s li my
h a n d fu lls . As h e r mot h e r s u bd u e d
h e r ,
be lls
r a n g ou t ,
a n d t h e
s t a ge
fi lle d wi t h
pe ople .
Th e
c le r i c s ,
r u n n i n g u p
a n d d own t h e s t a i r s t o C e n c i ' s
r oom,
a c c u s e d t h e
fa mi ly
of t h e
mu r d e r ,
d i s r e ga r d i n g
t h e i r
c ompli c i t y
i n t h e
plot .
A s e r va n t
c e r e mon i ou s ly
r e move d t h e s ma ll c h e s t fr om t h e
s t a ge . An ot h e r ,
t h e on e wh o
s a n g
a t
t h e
be gi n n i n g
of t h e
pla y, s lowly
c a me d own t h e s t a i r s
be a r i n g
C e n c i ' s
c loa k,
wh i c h s h e
offe r e d i n t u r n t o e a c h me mbe r of t h e
fa mi ly.
As t h e s e r va n t e xi t e d wi t h t h e c loa k h e ld
a loft , Be a t r i c e , Lu c r e t i a ,
a n d Be r n a r d o we r e le d off.
Be r n a r d o,
followi n g
t h e ot h e r s d own
t h e
s t a i r we ll, ke pt r e pe a t i n g,
"Gi ve me ba c k
my
s ou l."
Be a t r i c e wa s
i mpr i s on e d
be c a u s e s h e r e fu s e d t o c on fe s s h e r c r i me s . Th e
pr i s on
wa s
s u gge s t e d by
a
lon g t r a p
d oor r a i s e d
d i a gon a lly
a t t h e ba c k
r i gh t
of t h e
s t a ge . Alt h ou gh
THEATRE REPORTS 135
s h e wa s
ve r ba lly
a bu s e d a n d looke d
d i s h e ve lle d ,
s h e wa s n ot
ph ys i c a lly
t or t u r e d on
s t a ge .
Sh e wa s r e le a s e d a ft e r
be i n g
for c e d t o
s i gn
a c on fe s s i on .
In t h e fi n a l
s c e n e ,
Lu c r e t i a a n d Be a t r i c e we r e a lon e on t h e
s t a ge
r a t h e r t h a n
be i n g
pa r t
of a
pr oc e s s i on
a s Ar t a u d
s u gge s t e d .
Be a t r i c e
pu lle d
h e r mot h e r t o t h e
floor ; t h e y
r olle d ove r a n d ove r a s
t h e y
la me n t e d t h e i r s i t u a t i on . As t h e wome n c a lme d
d own ,
t h e y
c a r e fu lly
r e move d t h e i r s h oe s a n d
pla c e d
t h e m
n e a t ly
i n a r ow. Lu c r e t i a
got u p,
wa lke d
t owa r d t h e ba c k of t h e
s t a ge ,
kn e e le d
d own ,
a n d va n i s h e d i n a n i n s t a n t
t h r ou gh
a
t r a p
i n t h e floor .
Be a t r i c e ,
le ft h u d d le d ove r t h e
s pot
wh e r e h e r mot h e r h a d
d i s a ppe a r e d ,
r e ma i n e d fr oze n a s a
gold e n ,
Re mbr a n d t -li ke
li gh t , i llu mi n a t i n g
h e r fr om
be low,
s lowly
d i mme d t o bla c k.
H.
Roge r -Vi olle t , p
133
PHOTO C REDITS
Ni c ola
Sa va r e s e , pp 7, 8, 10, 14,
16, 17, 21, 23, 24,
25
Ton y d ' Ur s o, pp 27, 28,
29
Bob Va n
Da n t zi g, pp 126, 129,
130