Châteaux du ciel, Mirages and Obsessions
Photos by David Ospina from the Denise-Pelletier Theatre
Châteaux du ciels is a play presented at the Denise-Pelletier Theatre until April 15th and it is written by Marie-Claude Verdier. Based on 19th-century Europe, it presents the story of two princes, Ludwig and Otto, who after the death of their father, must now take charge of the kingdom of Bavaria. While Otto insists on fighting and perpetuating the war between Bavaria and France, Ludwig, the heir, is only interested in the arts and his aide-de-camp, Paul. In this intense tragedy, characters battle against their destiny but don’t be mistaken, it does not end well.
The shifting set is in constant motion between each scene: long sloping triangles organize the different zones on which the characters walk, delimitating rooms and places. Except for a few desks and chairs brought in and out of the scene, the set remains minimalist. Projections of castles and cardboard cut-outs help transmit the grandiose ambitions of Ludwig who hopes to create castles throughout the kingdom. Furthermore, even if the set fulfills its role in showing the majesty of the environment it also works against those same established impressions: in the final scenes when Ludwig realizes his money spending led his precious castle to be made like a set, with fake marble and paintings who crumble around him, the set literality breaks down. In this visual metaphor, it is clear that Ludwig can not escape his family’s destiny of ruins.
The Wittelsbach family, the monarchy of Bavaria, is a cursed family: all its members’ lives end tragically: the grandfather abdicated because he fell for a Spanish dancer, the father dies slowly of illness, and Otto, after fighting in the war also ends up completely crazy. Just like his brother, Ludwig cannot escape his fate: unable to connect with anyone, even the one he desires, Paul, and prone to spending all of the country’s money, he is unable of moving on from his obsessions. Crazy after the death of Paul and his loss of both the country and its money, he finally jumps in a frozen lake, looking for a castle on its island.
Furthermore, another theme that can be extracted from the play along with the impossibility to escape’s one fate is how one’s obsession can lead to their loss. As Ludwig loses everything, so does Otto when he sacrifices his love and sanity to fight, or Paul as his love for Ludwig makes him lose his life. Using the concept of castles, the piece presents how these mirages can lead astray.
Do not miss this tragic play filled with passion and desires at the Denise-Pelletier.
I am the Editor of the Arts and Culture department, but also a second year student in the Honours Health science program. 🙂
