“Please keep your masks on before, after, and during the show. If you don't have a bottle of hydroalcoholic gel, we offer you some ”. From the entrance to the Ramatuelle festival (Var), very close to Saint-Tropez, the public is fixed: the 2020 edition is being held but under strict health instructions. Like that of La Roque-d'Anthéron in the neighboring department of Bouches-du-Rhône. "Our luck is to be in the open air and to be able to space out the spectators", confides Jacqueline Franjou, the president of the festival created with Jean-Claude Brialy 35 years ago already. Until August 10, big names in theater, stand-up and comedy will follow one another. In front of a masked audience.
Ban on throwing red cushions
The 2020 edition has come a long way: “It doesn't look like when you see this very lively amphitheater today, but everything has been desperately empty for months. I was in Ramatuelle, confined to my home, says Jacqueline Franjou. I questioned the sub-prefect of Draguignan to find out what would become of us. What to do: cancel everything? Do a four day mini festival? I called the artists, the festival's patrons… They all told me: if you do it and if we can respect the health protocol, we will follow you ”.
The poster promises: the comic Jarry in opening followed by François Xavier-Demaison and François Berléand together on stage for the opening weekend, then Pierre Palmade solo, Michel Boujenah and Charles Berling in a poignant play, Jacques Weber for tell Victor Hugo, and Abd Al Malik in closing.
"Everyone came with their mask"
Sunday evening before François Berléand and François-Xavier Demaison entered the stage, the amphitheater was impressive: an audience wisely installed diagonally in the stands. In this green theater which can accommodate 1,200 people, the gauge stops at 700 spectators maximum. In the bays, we meet Nagui and his wife Mélanie Page, and Charles Berling, all masked. At the entrance, temperature measurement and reminder of instructions to the microphone by the artistic director, Michel Boujenah: “Maintaining the festival this year is an act of resistance. What I see is both magnificent and overwhelming. Looks like a science fiction movie! "
As for the famous red cushions, it is forbidden to throw them on stage to express joy at the end of a show. It is however the tradition in Ramatuelle. The amphitheater compensates by infusing an electric atmosphere. “It's a place out of time where artists are very close. You could almost touch them with your finger. Nothing to do with Parisian theaters… ”, savors Hélène, for her premiere at the festival.
“It's inflated to have maintained this meeting. And not so crazy since look: everyone came with their mask and distances are respected ”, continues his companion. In a corner of the festival, the Ramatuelle team is blowing. Reservations are good. “The theater and comedy hold most of the poster this year because singers could not come, recognizes Jacqueline Franjou. Alain Souchon and Catherine Ringer were scheduled but came with their musicians. Impossible on our little stage. We expect them next year and our fingers crossed! "