Somewhere, a while ago
«The End of the World» by Jean-Luc Lagarsie is the story of Louis, who returns home after a long absence to tell his family about his impending death. However, his reunion with his loved ones devolves into a series of tense conversations, resentments, and unspoken feelings. Through the characters' relationships, the play explores themes of familial alienation, loneliness, and the inability to truly hear one another.
The play is structured around monologues, although these are interspersed with scenes featuring more extensive dialogue. The protagonist’s inability to articulate his thoughts hinders the plot’s development and draws the other characters into a torrent of words.
If I feel anything of regret, it’s for these long-forgotten moments.
July 1990 Berlin.