Who is Don Juan? Or who was he? Nobody is quite sure if this vile seducer existed or if he just an allegory: A frivolous man without morale who gets punished for his deeds at the end of plays and operas. It is very likely that a lot of Don Juan’s existed (and still exist!). That is probably why it is so difficult to know who he really is.
In 1991 La Nuit de Valognes (original title of Don Juan on Trial) – the first play of Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt – was performed for the first time. In this version of the myth, Schmitt imagines that no supernatural power would be the origin of Don Juan’s punishment. He imagines what could happen if a few former victims of Don Juan would organise themselves the trial. To what Don Juan will be condemned? Will everything happen as planned? Is it be possible to tie down and defeat the seducer? Who is actually guilty? How much responsibility carry the victims? Schmitt brilliantly addresses these questions and make the audience question their own views on love, sex, and society, especially regarding relationships between men and women. With a few plot twists the play breaks some of our preconceived ideas, for instance about the “weaker sex” or a purely evil Don Juan.
The masks will fall and the truth be revealed by Thespians Anonymous between April 23 and 26 in Huurjaruth theatre in Helsinki. Come and judge by yourself!
Arnaud Praplan is directing a full production for the first time and is proud to make Eric- Emmanuel Schmitt – one of his favourite playwrights – known to a larger audience on this occasion.
Don Juan on Trial by Eric- Emmanuel Schmitt is Thespians Anonymous’ play for Spring 1015. Shows are on the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th of April, 2015 in Hurjaruuth, Kaapelitehdas Tallberginkatu 1 A, Helsinki. For more information visit Thespians Anonymous’ webpage or the Facebook event.