It’s not always easy to regularly update this shows section, as some of them don’t stay on the bill long enough for me to find the time to see them and tell you about them before the performances end.
I have nevertheless managed to gather for you in this article a lovely selection of shows to see right now in Paris and beyond, with a great variety of themes: theater, dance, figure skating, comedy…
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In the circle of the men of the Nile
Currently at the Quai Branly, In the circle of the men of the Nile is a fascinating and festive show about the Egyptian stick art (the tahtib). As always in this museum, it is a true invitation to travel and discover African cultures that are little-known to us (or completely unknown!).
The El Warsha company with the Medhat Fawzy Center (the only tahtib school in Egypt) offers top-tier entertainment that presents the various aspects of this ancestral art.
Alternating between musical passages and choreographed duels, we discover a fascinating event from traditional Egyptian festivals, performed and staged with brilliance. For all the curious out there, this is a show not to be missed!
In the circle of the men of the Nile
until Sunday, March 18, 2018
Musée du Quai Branly
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Les Inséparables: rare birds on stage…
(by Julie Brando)
Les Inséparables invites us on a journey, between two eras, following a virtuoso painter, Gabriel Orsini (Didier Bourdon), in the midst of an existential crisis whose creative genius seems to have deserted him.
When a stranger (Valérie Karsenti) bequeaths him a splendid artist’s studio in the heart of the capital, secrets emerge from the attic to lift the veil on a shadowed past. Supported by his faithful gallery owner (Thierry Frémont), who believes in his talent more than ever, and disturbed by the visit of his son—a copy of a detested banker grandfather—Gabriel must find answers to his torments, which keep him frozen in destructive bitterness.
Les Inséparables is a charming tune, a waltz between two times that brings past and present together in a staging remarkable for its inventiveness. On stage, the set of the art gallery transforms as the eras match, spinning on itself like a carousel—a Whirlwind of life.
Didier Bourdon carries on his shoulders the heavy responsibility of playing the roles of the bitter painter and his grandfather, making people laugh as much as cry, touching as much as inspiring a certain distance. His “Inseparable,” the delightful Karine Karsenti, dazzles us with her accuracy, her incandescent femininity, and her quite convincing Eastern accent.
the duo formed by the former ‘Inconnu’ and the famous Jewish mother from ‘Scènes de ménage’ is disturbingly complicit and harmonious. We witness here the expression of pain for which painting remains the main outlet. The unspoken words, the resentments, the sorrows, and the feelings are revealed as the walls of this home transform on stage. This family drama proves to us, with almost cinematographic mechanics, that it’s good to feel the vibes at the theater!
Note that our star duo is surrounded by no less exceptional supporting actors, including the effervescent Thierry Frémont. Why miss out?
Les Inséparables
By Stephan Archinard and François Prévôt-Leygonie
Directed by: Ladislas Chollat
With Didier Bourdon, Valérie Karsenti, Thierry Frémont, Pierre-Yves Bon, Elise Diamant
Wednesday to Saturday at 9 PM / Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 4 PM
Until May 20, 2018
Prices: from €65 to €15
Théâtre Hébertot
78 bis boulevard des Batignolles 75017 Paris
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Un Poyo Rojo
Straight from Argentina, the play Un Poyo Rojo (translation: a red rooster) is a treat at every moment, further enhanced by two fabulous actors/dancers. This story of flirting and provocation between men that questions masculinity in a locker room breaks down stereotypes and offers some beautiful moments of improvisation. Hard not to be won over!
The pitch: two beings seek, gauge, provoke, confront, desire, reject, and unite with each other in the locker rooms of a gym.
The two artists on stage, Alfonso Barón and Luciano Rosso, both Argentine, are dancers, acrobats, athletes, and performers, and their interpretation is simply incredible. It’s truly a show that I urge you to discover as soon as possible!
Un Poyo Rojo
7 PM Wednesday to Saturday
Théâtre Antoine
Until May 30, 2018
Prices: from €23 to €42
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How to become Parisian in one hour?
This show by Olivier Giraud has been on the bill for several years now and will continue to run throughout 2018 in the century-old (fully renovated and magnificent!) hall of the Théâtre des Nouveautés (600 seats), on the Grands Boulevards in Paris.
Voted “Paris Best Comedy 2017,” this one-man show 100% in English has already attracted more than 500,000 spectators from France and around the world, and in a few years, this show has become a must-see humorous cultural activity in Paris.
The pitch: in his show, Olivier Giraud describes the behavior of the inhabitants of the capital and prepares his audience to face Parisian life through 8 lessons rooted in everyday situations (subway, restaurants, shops…).
We obviously laughed a lot at the caricature (though not so much when you think about it) of Parisian flaws contrasted with those of tourists. Besides, in the audience, there is a joyful mix of representatives of these two species that must coexist in the jungle of the capital.
As a Parisian, I obviously identified with quite a few cases described in the show, and Olivier Giraud‘s facial expressions definitely add a comedic aspect to the situations.
How to become Parisian in one hour?
Extended until December 31, 2018
Théâtre des Nouveautés
24 bvd Poissonnière 75009 Paris
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:00 PM & Sunday at 6:00 PM
Prices: between €24 and €37
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The French tour of Holiday On Ice
I am a fan of figure skating and yet I had never seen a Holiday On Ice show… That mistake was corrected as I went to the premiere of the show in France centered around the theme of Atlantis on March 2nd at the Aren’Ice in Cergy-Pontoise.
This year on the French tour, we are treated to the exceptional participation of Katrina Patchett and especially Brian Joubert, who was one of my favorite skaters when he was in international competition. I was therefore also delighted to be able to see him again.
Verdict: I was very pleasantly surprised by the show, which offers some beautiful moments of group skating in particular, and I therefore recommend it to all lovers of this discipline.
Tour in France (24 cities) until May 2018
Prices: from €29 to €99
