Arnaud Desplechin's "La Musica deuxième" at Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier Draws Criticism for Melodrama

At the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier, director Arnaud Desplechin stages "La Musica deuxième," a play by Marguerite Duras that depicts a confrontation between a woman and a man as they revisit the failure of their marriage and what love remains after separation. The production has been faulted for leaning too frequently into melodrama, according to a review in Le Monde. The play, whose title translates to "The Music Two," is a two-character work that explores the aftermath of a divorce. Desplechin, known primarily as a filmmaker, directs this theatrical staging. The Vieux-Colombier is a historic theater in Paris, associated with the Comédie-Française. The review suggests that the director's approach overemphasizes emotional excess rather than the subtle tensions of Duras's text. No further details about the cast, creative team, or run dates are provided in the source. The critique reflects ongoing debates about the interpretation of Duras's minimalist style on stage.