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Betty Taoutel makes her grand return to the Tournesol Theater after a four-year hiatus, marking the occasion with flair (and hot flashes)… to take a break. Balancing irony and self-deprecation, the actress, author and director continuously draws inspiration from Lebanese current events to craft her plays.
Forced to abruptly halt the production she had carefully prepared and was fully committed to, Couloir El Faraj in 2020, due to the convergence of an economic and health crisis compounded by the August 4 explosion, Betty Taoutel was overwhelmed by despair and plunged into a sort of depression. She left the stage of the Tournesol Theater in March 2020, only to make a supportive comeback in March 2024 after the venue had suffered a fire. “Don’t we need a moment of reflection to approach words with delicacy… don’t we?” she ponders. Having disappeared from the scene, she decided to address this “absence” in a new work. She chose a solitary retreat to find serenity, transferring the adventures of this withdrawal to a Lebanese mountain house.
With her sparkling humor and expressions dear to our hearts, Betty Taoutel returns to move and entertain us, delicately shining a light on the trials of a frequently misunderstood 50-something wife. This woman who strives from dawn to dusk for her children’s happiness and her husband’s comfort.
She turns off her phone and flings it into the toilet, seeking to definitively cut herself off from the outside world, in a mountain refuge offered by a friend for 10 days. She indulges in wine and music, trying to forget her worries and find herself during this 10-day break. However, neither phone alerts nor doorbell rings will allow her the tranquility she seeks. With Dr. Jacques Mokhbat playing a disruptor role that is both humorous and touching, this dynamic duo navigates laughter and profound reflections, skillfully conveyed by the author’s dramatic talent.
Clothespins and the iron become powerful symbols, elevated through metaphors that illustrate the daily life of a housewife. In the context of menopause, which alters the silhouette and causes sweating, every woman can find a piece of herself in this character who, with boldness, answers those who dare judge her for not finding time for the gym or for insisting on continuing to work from home while pursuing an active career.
Torn between the desire to give up and the desire to reveal the true woman within, despite a storm of hormones and an unshakeable maternal love, the actress embraces her role with contagious energy and dynamism, on the stage of a theater where she has always shone, and where she believed in her dream. This play offers not just an escape and a moment of pleasure but also represents a commendable initiative in support of the Lebanese AIDS Society, a cause that is particularly close to Dr. Jacques Mokhbat’s heart, its founder and president, who has dedicated his art to this cause for years.
Moreover, the performance also supports several Lebanese associations. Due to the success of its initial showings, Mono Pause will be extended through the month of April. So, take the time to take a break!
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