It is not always easy to keep this shows section up to date, as some of them do not stay on the bill long enough for me to find the time to see them and tell you about them before the final performances. I have therefore decided to sometimes tell you about certain shows in advance and add the reviews later, once I have seen them.
I have nevertheless managed to gather for you in this article a small selection of shows to see right now in Paris, with a great variety of themes: theater, circus, comedy, dance, cinema…
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Table of Contents
The Nutcracker by the National Ballet of China
It was a great pleasure to return to La Seine Musicale, a venue that I appreciate a lot and which has an extremely interesting program.
I had never seen The Nutcracker ballet on stage, so I was delighted to discover the Chinese version of this famous ballet. Indeed, the National Ballet of China (founded in 1959 and of a high technical level recognized worldwide) brings us its version of the work here, through a transposition of the story into Chinese culture in 2 acts and 6 scenes.
This gives us sumptuous sets and costumes to see, and a show of wonder that made me find my inner child and made me want to be immersed in the Christmas and holiday season.
On stage during this superb performance, more than 70 dancers and 60 musicians from the Pasdeloup Orchestra, to play the sublime music of Tchaikovsky live.
The Nutcracker by the National Ballet of China La Seine Musicale Ile Seguin, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt from 10/24/2018 to 11/04/2018 at 8:00 PM Duration: 1h50 with intermission Ticket prices: from 25 to 95 €
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The new Cirque du Soleil show, Totem
I have been a fan of Cirque du Soleil for many years, and I remember with emotion the show I saw in Lyon many years ago… No, I won’t even try to count…
So I was delighted to learn that Cirque du Soleil was returning to Paris with its show of acrobats and lights, Totem, bringing together 46 artists from 19 different countries (including 3 French!) in a big top installed until December at La Plaine de Jeux de Bagatelle (Paris 16th).
Inspired by the evolution of man, the show oscillates between a Broadway-style musical blockbuster and a traditional circus (without animals). The dexterity of the performers is staggering; what’s more, the numbers are packaged with a great sense of storytelling that leaves no respite for the spectator and is a feast for the eyes (and the ears with beautiful musical pieces). You leave the show feeling amazed and with a desire to take out your old dusty diabolo…
My advice: If you go by public transport, check it out carefully beforehand because I find it a bit difficult to access… We ended up going by car.
Totem / Cirque du Soleil From Thursday, October 25th until December 30, 2018 Performances Tuesday to Friday at 8:00 PM - Saturdays at 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM - Sundays at 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM Under the Grand Chapiteau Plaine de Jeux de Bagatelle Bois de Boulogne / Route de Sèvres 75016 Prices: from 50 €
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Max Bird returns with his “Encyclo-Spectacle” at L’Européen
I have been following Max Bird on YouTube for some time, and I must say that I am quite (very) a fan of his videos debunking “common misconceptions” which I devour every time he releases a new one. In short, as you will have understood, I really, really want to go see his show at L’Européen!!! I find his humor sharp and intelligent, and I always learn plenty of things listening to him.
"Encyclo-Spectacle" by Max Bird L'Européen starting November 27, 2018 And at the Casino de Paris on June 15 & 16, 2019, December 10, 2019, and on tour throughout France from January to April 2019
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L’Ecran Pop, the 1st karaoke cinema in France
Inspired by the Anglo-Saxon Sing-Along tradition, this entertainment offers original screenings featuring cult musical films in karaoke version: “Mamma Mia!”, “The Young Girls of Rochefort”, and as a new feature, “Grease” next week!
Here are the next screenings scheduled at the Grand Rex:
- October 26, 2018: L’Ecran Pop The Young Girls of Rochefort
- October 30, 2018: L’Ecran Pop Grease (1st time in the main hall to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary)
- November 23, 2018: L’Ecran Pop Mamma Mia!
- November 28, 2018: Special evening for the DVD and Blu-Ray release of Mamma Mia! 2, Here We Go Again!
- December 06, 2018: Mamma Mia!
- December 14, 2018: Grease
- February 08, 2019: The Young Girls of Rochefort
L'Ecran Pop Grease
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 8:30 PM (doors open at 7:00 PM)
The Grand Rex, The Main Hall
1 boulevard poissonnière, 75002 Paris,
Price: 21 €_
Alela Diane in concert at Le Trianon in Paris
I fell in love with the folk and slightly melancholic melodies of American singer Alela Diane while listening to one of the tracks from her latest album, Cusp: Ether & Wood (to be listened to below).
Since then, I admit that I listen on repeat to some of her songs that resonate deeply within me. I was therefore absolutely delighted to hear about her concert in Paris very soon, and as you can imagine, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
For the little bit of info, even if I discovered this singer quite recently, her first album, The Pirate’s Gospel, is 10 years old and is actually being re-released at the moment in a Deluxe edition.
Alela Diane Concert Monday, November 5, 2019 at 7:30 PM Le Trianon 80 Boulevard de Rochechouart, 75018 Paris Prices: 26 € Other dates in France: Rennes; Saint-Pierre-de-Coutances; Aubergenville; Cenon; Portes-lès-Valence
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Delirious heist at Le Palace!
(by Julie Brando)
If you are in a gloomy mood with the arrival of winter time, head to the Le Palace theater to have a laugh at “Le Gros Diamant du Prince Ludwig”, directed by Gwen Aduh.
It’s a whole 50s vibe, Hollywood style à la Marx Brothers, that we get to see and enjoy. The play is a treat for the cheekbones and the eyes; the staging, full of inventiveness, will turn your head, almost literally. It’s totally crazy, even grotesque, but we love it and the fun is well and truly there!
This supercharged heist is the adaptation of an English play titled “The Comedy About A Bank Robbery”, written by three talents of English comedy: Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields.
There is a touch of Monty Python in their universe, and we appreciate the comic charm of the English and their very personal way of treating the absurd. Broken arms, dim-witted thieves, a ditzy pin-up, a naive and loving pickpocket, a crooked and angry bank manager, a secretary full of curves and secrets, implausibilities, running gags, mix-ups, and pretense, everything is there!
The strength of the play lies in the energy of the actors who give everything until exhaustion. We go from one skit to another in a very appreciable jazzy atmosphere, in good humor and the excitement of knowing what we are going to be in for next! Because the comic situations follow one another and are never the same.
The audience goes from surprise to surprise in the writing, the acting, and the incredible inventiveness of the staging, which in many aspects has a touch of magic. Acrobatics and optical effects, we remain speechless before this cinematic sleight of hand, which makes one happy and curious.
It is therefore not surprising to learn that the play received the 2018 Molière for Best Comedy. And there is no doubt that the play will have a long life and will continue to bring joy to an audience in need of a little happiness in this world of brutes! Perfect for families for the end-of-year holidays! We are anticipating a little…
Le Gros Diamant du Prince Ludwig Until March 2019 and then from July 19, 2019 Le Palace 8, Rue du Faubourg Montmartre 75009 Paris, France Prices: from 24 € to 39.5 € per ticket
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The winning return of “Misery” to the stage
(by Julie Brando)
No one has forgotten the diabolical performance of Katy Bates opposite James Caan in the 1991 film adaptation of Stephen King’s best-seller, “Misery”. A work that left its mark on bookstore shelves and movie theaters alike, and is now arriving on the stage of the Théâtre Hébertot in Paris. Does the play stand up to the comparison? Well, yes, 100%.
This theatrical adaptation has nothing to envy of the glory of its literary and cinematic counterparts, as the story by the master of suspense and horror, a terrifying closed-door drama, lends itself perfectly to the theatrical setting. Not a minute of respite, a palpable tension that carries us until the long-awaited outcome.
The cinematic, chilling staging, with its horrifying projections, intelligently conveys all the distress of a man imprisoned by madness.
The well-known story of a writer famous for his series of novels starring the character of “Misery”, who is the victim of a car accident in the middle of a snowstorm. He is taken in by a former nurse, presenting herself as “his biggest fan”, who will hold him captive until she gets the writer to write an ending worthy of her fascination with “Misery”.
The character of the nurse is played by an impressive Myriam Boyer. It is difficult to follow Katy Bates, who at the time won the Oscar for Best Actress, and yet the French actress manages masterfully. The ambiguity of the character, her apparent kindness, as well as her moments of madness, are interpreted with disconcerting accuracy.
Deeply inhabited by her character, Myriam Boyer terrorizes with her naturalness and the ease with which she sinks into psychosis. Opposite her, Francis Lombrail plays a wounded writer, a victim of his success, who is absolutely fascinating and holds his own with brilliance against this great lady of the theater.
What more can I say, other than let yourself be seduced by this “Misery” mastered from start to finish, leaving the audience with a captivating feeling of unease. This feeling of having lived an experience of anxiety and terror is rare in the theater, so it would be a shame to deprive yourself of it.
One thing is certain: you will remember Myriam Boyer and her totally inhabited gaze for a long time. Bravo!
Misery
Directed by Daniel Benoin, with Myriam Boyer and Francis Lombrail
Théâtre Hébertot
78 bis boulevard des Batignolles 75017 PARIS
Until January 6, 2019
Thursday to Saturday at 9:00 PM
Sunday matinee at 3:00 PM
The current good deal: celebrate Halloween with Misery, exceptional price of 25 € in 1st
categoryfrom October 25th to November 4th_
Tristan Lopin at the Théâtre Trévise
Here again, I am going to tell you about a YouTuber that I have been following for a little while on the web and whose videos I love, in which he recounts his romantic misfortunes in trying to find his Prince Charming, with a style all his own. If you want to get a glimpse of his universe, I advise you to go discover his slightly crazy videos.
For my part, I was extremely eager to see Tristan Lopin on stage, in real life without the filter of the camera, and I was not disappointed! The friend I brought with me that evening did not know him at all, and she was dying of laughter.
I appreciated on stage the same spontaneity that Tristan expresses in his videos, the same humor, a bit trashy but always tinged with affection and sensitivity. In short, we had a great time, and I am even more eager to discover his next videos and perhaps even his next show!
Dépendance Affective by Tristan Lopin Théâtre Trévise 14 Rue de Trévise, 75009 Paris Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 PM until March 16, 2019, then on tour in France Update of January 20, 2019: Following the closure of the Théâtre Trévise for an indefinite period, Tristan Lopin will perform at the Apollo Théâtre from January 24 to March 29, 2019, then will be on tour in France New date for the show on October 22, 2020 at the Olympia
