LE DYNAMISME DU JEU DANS LE METATHEATRE FRAÇAIS

Abstract

Theater within theater, or metatheater, is a widely studied dramatic technique. However, there is a noticeable gap in research regarding the mirror effect, a phenomenon associated with the metatheatrical practices such as the doubling of roles and "the play within the play" in French drama. This study aims to analyze the mirror effect and the doubling of roles within the framework of theater within theater. Metatheatrical plays incorporate various forms of mirrored reflections, transitions, and fusions within a unified framework. The focus of this study is the transition related to a secondary role or metarole, which imposes distinct behavioral expectations on both the actor and the audience. If a role dictates a specific state of mind, immersing the spectator in a precise illusion, the embedded play introduces a second illusion without breaking the first, leading to a reflective interplay that causes the actor's role to double, highlighting the cause-effect relationship. The doubling of roles, emerging from this reflective interplay, manifests during rehearsals and performances. In metatheatrical works, rehearsals provide a space for participants to engage in exchanges about the rehearsed play and the broader art of theater.