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Chou mnelbous? (“What do we wear?”) is a play performed by Anjo Rihane and directed by Yehia Jaber at the Le Monnot Theater. Following the success of Moujaddara Hamra, the duo continues to garner acclaim.
Chou mnelbous?, performed by Anjo Rihane and directed by Yehya Jaber at the Le Monnot Theater, is a work that subtly and movingly blends tragedy and comedy.
Who clothes us with ideas or garments? Who decides “what we wear?” What does it mean to be in fashion or outdated in terms of love, politics, revolution or marriage? What about nudity or attire?… Chou mnelbous? Who has burdened us with accusations? Who caught us in the act of loving life or fearing death?
Beyond the personal situation of the family seen through the eyes of the growing Yara, the play addresses post-war consciousness and collective memory. It questions the amnesia of an entire people, preserves the spirit of committed men, and pays homage to women fortified by an eternal, transcendent love, like that of mothers. Mothers opens their arms wide to cook, clean, wash, hold and hit. They would engage with all senses: the touch of large wooden spoons, the sound of words or whistling bullets, the smell of cooked dishes or shampoo…
Anjo Rihane dominates the stage like a fish in water within a minimalist set she brings to life. She fills the empty space with her words, her jerky hip movements, her hands reaching for the sky, and her onomatopoeias. She captivates the audience and generously offers nearly two hours of performance, embodying the daughter, father Youssef Salamé, mother Najwa, their masked pains, and all the sufferings of Lebanese men and women.
The talented actress juggles with age and time. She transforms into each character. She carries the banner of the disappeared, the dishes of the neighbors, the cause of the communists, the veil of the sisters, the prayer of the Quran, and as a teenager, she claims the two-piece swimsuit, a symbol of freedom and emancipation.
In her stage sequence, the repetitive question of the child she was comes back incessantly. It punctuates the storyline: “Is it my fault?” Does one ever get rid of the guilt of being born Lebanese?
Anjo Rihane has the innate talent of a hakawati. The stage lights follow her and cling to her skin. The floor bows beneath her feet. In a tracksuit and socks, she doesn’t hesitate to play with fabrics, remove her costume and put it back on with ease and without taboo. Her movements align with the topics she addresses without restraint. Anjo Rihane is one of those actresses who immerse themselves in the text and the stories they convey. We are touched by her narrative, that of little Yara Salameh who grows up in an engaged environment, amidst a fictional minefield. In this captivating space, between veiling herself and becoming a nun or an emancipated young woman, the threat of death hovers around her family, in the spiked boots of a soldier or the sound of machine guns. What courage does it take to keep one’s sense of humor?
Chou mnelbous? is a tender, comedic play adorned with multiple colors. The staging relies on minimalism, accompanied by a narrative and poignant text, as well as the striking presence of the actress. The stage duo Anjo Rihane and Yehia Jaber once again achieve a successful work, stirring memory and consciousness. How many internal wars have we silenced? What will become of a people who cast aside the intertwined stories of atrocious and indelible battles? To the tears of the audience and the disillusions of little Yara who grows up before our eyes, Anjo Rihane’s smile on stage responds to everything.
The play will be performed again at the Le Monnot Theater on July 16, 19, and 28, 2024.
Tickets available at: antoineticketing.com
