CCH- While I was pursuing my acting training at the School of the National Theater of Strasbourg, I always felt a lack, a form of frustration, that of being "only" an actor. It was not until much later that I understood that this lack was that of my native land.
Most of my acting career took place in France, but it is in Lebanon that I produce and direct my films. I love being an actor as they say, but direct allows me, perhaps, to fill this irreversible lack that provokes the exile; the one that tears us from our country, and the other, perhaps even more terrible, to the lost paradise of childhood. These two professions are, for the moment, perfectly complementary.
II. Where did your passion for theater come from?
CCH- I do not know. This kind of passion, as you call it, comes from a mysterious place in our relationship to the world. An incompleteness perhaps.
III. You have already made several plays in Lebanon, tell us about your experience with the Lebanese audience.
CCH- My first production in Beirut, "Carnage" by Yasmina Reza, took place in 2014. I must admit that I was surprised to see how the play worked well and how much the audience it attracted. Since, and with my other two plays, "La Cerisaie" and "Dinner with Friends", it has also been a success and a large public attended. A curious and warm public. I would say that the main difficulty that I encountered with the public is that caused by the scarcity of the script theater in Lebanon, because I was often asked, "why are you doing "La Cerisaie" and "Dinner with Friends"?" as if these scripts did not concern the Lebanese. Of course, I'm talking about the general public, for whom the theater's function remains mainly that of entertainment. I love to distract and distract myself too, but the theater is more than that.
IV. How is the choice of your plays decided?
CCH- Scripts that touch me and that seem to me, very likely to reach the Lebanese public.
V. Tell us about this play ILLUSIONS.
CCH- Four young actors, Carole Hajj, Serena Chami, Wissam Fares and Joseph Zeitouny tell us about two couples of old people, now missing, Margaret, Sandra, Dennis and Albert. Their loves, as well as their supposed betrayals and lies. They seem to know them perfectly. A little too much, even. Why are they telling us all this? Are they inventing everything? What is it about ? I liked this script because it is mysterious and full of tenderness. Ivan Viripaev's writing reminds me of Chekhov's. They are both Russian and write, and both, on the edge of a radical change of world.
VI. How did you choose the actors for this play?
CCH- This is the third show I'm doing with them except Wissam Fares, with whom I'm working for the first time. I chose them because they are, all four, talented and beautiful people.
VII. You recently received an award for this play?
CCH- Illusions received the best show award at the first edition of the Lebanese Theater Festival held in December 2018. I was honored and pleased with this award because the jury members recognized the quality of my work and of all those who built this piece with me. This prize I share with the actors and all my collaborators, who are also all actors except Ghida, who is also an architect and dancer, Pol Seif in lighting, Ghida Hachicho in scenography, Joyce Abu Jaoudé my assistant, Mohamad Hjeij in management and production, and Basma Baydoun in media. This is to say how the Lebanese youth is multi-tasked and talented.
VIII. What is your next project?
CCH- I look forward to working with Ziad Doueri and playing under his direction in a series produced by Arte. I will be one of the "Cadres Noirs"; this is the title of the series. "Inchallah" as they say.
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