La Nuit des rois

In a theatre dressing room, a young woman talks to her lover, a successful actor

A return to its roots for Castor et Pollux, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s lyric tragedy first performed in 1737 at the Académie royale and inspired by the mythological episode of the Gemini. Rarely performed in its original version – the score was reworked by Rameau himself in 1754 –, this daring work plays on contrasts and expressiveness, as in the famous “Tristes apprêts”. The aria is sung by Télaïre mourning the death of her fiancé Castor, killed in battle, before his twin brother Pollux descends into the Underworld to ask his father, Jupiter, to bring him back to life. While this opera celebrates brotherly love, its prologue poses an essential question for director Peter Sellars: how do you stop a war and its attendant hatred and resentment?

Charlie wants to present his first creation on stage, but the memories and comments about his choices run through his head.

The fortunes of a small theatrical company based in the Paris suburbs.

Tartuffe is a hypocritical impostor who manages to manipulate Orgon, a wealthy widowed bourgeois, by feigning devotion. Orgon ends up offering his daughter Mariane in marriage to Tartuffe, while he disowns his son Damis and intends to donate all his possessions to Tartuffe. Elmire, Orgon's young wife, whom Tartuffe is courting, will attempt to expose him, while the royal family intervenes to prevent the ruin of Orgon's family.

A stage director patiently awaits his lead stars to arrive for rehearsal. As they are running late, he watches their recorded audition to remind himself he made the right choice in casting them. He wonders how far they will go.