Scents of Silence
The play of Jean-Marc Pambrun was to be created in
2003 at Hiva Oa, Marquesas, to commemorate the centenary of the death of the
painter Paul Gauguin (May 8, 1903 at Atuona). So, Jean-Marc and I both, we have
done everything possible to stage the show. That was not the case, alas...
It must be remembered that at
the time, Polynesia was living the end of Gaston Flosse's reign and any
financial or logistical support was dependent upon him. Remember also, that
neither Jean-Marc Pambrun nor I were in the odor of sanctity from him. Myself
for my opposition journalist activities, Jean-Marc for all his work and his
life. For this reason the first edition of the text of the play was therefore
signed with the pseudonym Etienne Ahuroa. The same nickname was used in all the
steps to put on the show, until the fall of Flosse and his replacement by Oscar
Temaru (independentist leader) President of the Country.
Birth of the project
My hope, according to the
design and the project launched by the Company "To'u fenua e motu"
(My homeland is an isle), was that the eight actors are all Marquesan. We must get
the support and partnership of a mayor of the archipelago. Much to my surprise
one of the historical pillars of the Tahoera'a (Flosse's party), the Mayor of
Ua Pou, Kohumoetini René, was the first to provide us his support. Thanks to
him, the foundations of the draft were laid on this wonderful island of Ua Pou.
Indeed, the elected officials from Atuona (the isle of Hiva Oa where Gauguin
died) were clearly and firmly opposed the project. Alas! Despite his support and
a creation on a shoestring this administration never give us any fund to
produce the show.
The cover of the original edition of "Scents of Silence" |
The situation completely
changes with the reversal of Flosse and the coming to power of Oscar Temaru in
June 2004. In the following weeks, the new Minister of culture, Tauhiti Nena,
allots us a grant of 1 million Pacific francs (about € 8,400). This is clearly
insufficient: there is still an artistic team of 11 people to pay for 4 months,
not to mention all the technical costs. No problem: we decide to get it going.
Therefore, all expenses will
be on personal funds until the grant comes me to pay back. These travel and
accommodation expenses put a severe strain on the project budget. Indeed they
were encrypted at the time to xpf
500,000 (about € 4,200).
So I went first to Ua Pou to
start the cast. Then back to Tahiti to launch the technical aspects of the
project, including the design and manufacture of stage sets entrusted to Makno,
an artist. Finally, I moved to Ua Pou and begins rehearsals of the show.
I point out that none of the
selected players has never set foot on a stage, never even seen a single
theater performance. This explains why the rehearsals were planned on two
sessions of two months each.
When the Church sticks its nose in things
Everything was wonderful until
the bishop of the Marquesas put a dent in the plans.
Before proceeding, two or
three essential clarifications.
In such a remote island as Ua
Pou, where the population is almost 100% Catholic, the Church's power is
absolute and nothing can be done without his consent. In all my efforts there,
so I had been careful to involve the island priest and everything turned out
right. Me, a convinced unbeliever, I subjected myself to attend Mass for I
didn't want to offend anyone.
Jean-Marc Pambrun, as such |
Jean-Marc Pambrun was, before
being a talented artist, an historian and anthropologist. And so, when writing
of "Scents of Silence", all related facts were verified
scientifically by a scientist. This is mainly because of two proven and
indisputable historical facts recounted in the play that the Catholic Church,
through the Bishop of the Marquesas, will violently oppose the project until
the annulment. These two facts are:
-
it's common
knowledge, the bishop of the time (the épicopo
in the text of the play) has had several natural children with a very young
vahine;
-
by order of the
same bishop, Gauguin's body was taken
under the nose of Protestants and indigenous by Catholics in order to be buried according to the rites
of the Church and no other.
Therefore, pressure was
exerted by the priest on the Ua Pou players to give up their participation in
the project. It was also asked the faithful to stand as much as possible away
from the community. The situation became untenable and above, it became impossible
to continue the work; four players had left the canoe and it seemed impossible
to replace them... So I went back to Tahiti to try to find other solutions.
One of the alternatives was to
stage the show in Tahiti, but always with Marquesan actors. Contacts were then
made with "Te Fare Nui Tauhiti", the house of culture of Papeete, the
only performance hall equipped in Polynesia. There, the blocking was not
religious but political...
Indeed the director of the
structure, now Minister of Culture of Government Fritch, was appointed to the
post by Gaston Flosse himself for services rendered. His position was clearly
exposed to Jean-Marc Pambrun "I wish that one goes up your play "home
(in my business) ", but on condition that Julien Gué is not in the
project!" Jean-Marc flatly refused this proposal, while seeking a way to
change the mind of his interlocutor. In vain until now.
The end of a dream?
On 22 October 2004, the Temaru
Government was overthrown for the first time thanks to the political
manipulation of Gaston Flosse. In January 2005, the Company "To'u e Motu
Fenua" received from the Ministry of Culture, an injunction to repay the
grant received for the show "Scents of silence" on the grounds that
it had not been used in lead times! I specify here that the money had been paid
into the account of the association during November 2004...
The death knell of the project
had tolled. At least with regard to its realization in a strictly Polynesian
setting.
Julien Gué, unvarnished and without wreath of flowers |
Since, I continue to seek a
solution that would produce the show without asking a cent to Polynesia and
without suffering any pressure or any censorship. Some tracks have been found.
But for now, none of them makes possible to bring the project to completion in
good conditions.
The ideal solution would be: a
co-production between a metropolitan structure and the Cultural Center Tjibaou at
Noumea with no other connection with the French Polynesia except the cast and
the first rehearsals.
The question is:
shall I find one day the partner who will allow me to finally pay this tribute
to the talent of the late Jean-Marc Pambrun?
An article
of Julien Gué
Translated from French by Monak
Copyright
Julien Gué. Ask for the author’s agreement before any reproduction of the
text or the images on Internet or traditional press.
Read also here:
-Our Article on the play by
Jean-Marc Pambrun "Les
parfums du Silence"
-On
"L'Écriturien", blog of Jean-Marc Pambrun, still active: http://teraituatini.blogspot.com/2014/12/les-parfums-du-silence-piece-de-theatre.html
-Article
Chloe Angué: http://revel.unice.fr/loxias/?id=6817
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