Boujenah & Benoin Deliver a Profoundly Moving Performance at Anthéa

Last Saturday, the Anthéa Theatre in Antibes offered its audience a rare and unforgettable moment of theatre with a powerful staging of Address Unknown, adapted from Kressmann Taylor’s celebrated novel. Performed by two exceptional actors ” Daniel Benoin and Michel Boujenah ” this production resonated with a depth and emotional intensity that left the entire theatre captivated.

On stage, Daniel Benoin, in the role of Martin, delivers a masterful and deeply nuanced performance. He portrays the German friend returning to his homeland as Nazism rises, revealing the slow transformation of a man torn between loyalty, ambition and ideology. Through subtle shifts in tone, posture, and silence, Benoin brings Martin’s inner turmoil to life with chilling authenticity.

Opposite him, Michel Boujenah shines as Max, the Jewish art dealer who remains in San Francisco. Boujenah infuses the role with immense humanity, sensitivity, and emotional truth. His voice carries warmth, vulnerability, and ultimately heartbreak. With a simple glance or a restrained gesture, he conveys the pain of betrayal, the fear of impending tragedy, and the enduring strength of friendship. His performance moved many in the audience to tears.

The staging directed by Daniel Benoin is intentionally stripped down, placing the full spotlight on the actors and the raw power of their correspondence. The minimalist set magnifies each letter exchanged, each emotional shift, and each moment of tension. As the story unfolds, friendship falters, ideals clash, and the dark shadow of History stretches over the stage.

By the final moment, the theatre fell into a profound silence, a silence heavy with emotion. The audience at Anthéa was visibly moved, shaken by the relevance of the story and the extraordinary talent of both actors. Many left the theatre still processing the emotional impact of what they had just witnessed.

With Address Unknown, Anthéa once again proves its commitment to bold, meaningful, and profoundly human theatre. Thanks to the remarkable performances of Michel Boujenah and Daniel Benoin, this timeless story finds new resonance powerful, urgent, and unforgettable.

Gil Zetbase