Serge Nicolaï's 'Sleeping' Adapts Kawabata's 'The House of the Sleeping Beauties'
Serge Nicolaï's theatrical adaptation of Yasunari Kawabata's novel 'The House of the Sleeping Beauties' premiered in a professional preview at Le Montfort in late January 2021, with public performances postponed to October 2021. The play, titled 'Sleeping', explores themes of beauty, solitude, and mortality through the story of elderly men who spend nights with drugged young girls. Nicolaï, a former actor with Théâtre du Soleil, blends French and Japanese languages and employs a Zen aesthetic with Noh masks, live percussion by Matthieu Rauchvarger, and nearly nude dancers. The cast includes Yumi Fujimori, Carina Pousaz, Jennifer Skolovski, and Yoshi Oïda, the 87-year-old Japanese actor known for his work with Peter Brook at Bouffes du Nord. Oïda's performance as Eguchi is noted for its intense dramatic authority. The production also references a 2009 operatic adaptation by Guy Cassiers and Kris Defoort.
Key facts
- Serge Nicolaï adapted Yasunari Kawabata's 1961 novel 'The House of the Sleeping Beauties' into a play titled 'Sleeping'.
- The professional preview took place at Le Montfort in late January 2021.
- Public performances are rescheduled for October 2021.
- The play explores themes of beauty, solitude, and mortality through elderly men visiting drugged young girls.
- Nicolaï uses a blend of French and Japanese languages and a Zen aesthetic.
- Live percussion is performed by Matthieu Rauchvarger.
- The cast includes Yumi Fujimori, Carina Pousaz, Jennifer Skolovski, and Yoshi Oïda.
- Yoshi Oïda, aged 87, is a Japanese actor known for collaborations with Peter Brook.
- A 2009 operatic adaptation by Guy Cassiers and Kris Defoort exists.
- Kawabata won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968 and died by suicide in 1972 at age 72.
Entities
Artists
- Serge Nicolaï
- Yasunari Kawabata
- Yoshi Oïda
- Yumi Fujimori
- Carina Pousaz
- Jennifer Skolovski
- Matthieu Rauchvarger
- Guy Cassiers
- Kris Defoort
- Peter Brook
- Ariane Mnouchkine
- Yukio Mishima
Institutions
- Le Montfort
- Théâtre du Soleil
- Bouffes du Nord
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Tokyo
- Japan
Sources
- artpress —