To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the great playwright, "22, v'là Molière!"
announce the posters of the Comédie-Française which devotes an entire season to him (1), i.e. thirteen plays.
The Molière year has only just begun.
La Pléiade reissues its works in box sets;
Versailles devotes the exhibition
Molière, the factory of a national glory (2
) to him, while in Moulins, in the Allier, the Costume Museum presents one hundred and fifty costumes and sets of models (3)… Heroes of literature , comedy genius, at the Comédie-Française, he is downright the “patron saint”.
Read alsoLeïla Slimani and Guillaume Gallienne: “We are fascinated by those who have lost, all the vanquished, the exiles”
As an honorary title, he is considered the first dean, although he died seven years before the creation of the theater, in 1680. His ghost is everywhere.
Portrait painted by Mignard watching over the actors in the artists' foyer, replica of his bust sculpted by Houdon, where bouquets of violets are placed, armchair in which he felt unwell while performing the fourth performance of his
Imaginary Invalid,
February 17, 1673 , before dying, at home, a few hours later.
He is here the most played author, dethroning by far Racine, Corneille, Musset and Marivaux.
For Éric Ruf, general administrator of the Comédie-Française since 2014, Molière has “a thousand faces and a thousand theaters”.
Group portrait with ten actors from his illustrious house.
In video, The 2022 Revelations of the Césars
Guillaume Gallienne and Julie Sicard,
in “The Imaginary Invalid”
Madame FIgaro
.- For you, Molière is…
Guillaume Gallienne.–
The boss!
In every sense of the term.
The actor's boss as a costume boss.
He is the first dean of the troupe: today, Claude Mathieu is its continuity.
Julie Sicard.–
This is the house, I live in rue Molière!
And when I'm not at home, I'm in Molière's house, at the Comédie-Française.
A favorite quote?
GG–
“Everything works by cabal and by pure interest.
It is no longer only trickery that prevails today;
and men should be made of another kind.”
JS–
"I'm never bored."
At the Comédie-Française…
GG–
It's a school of life.
The important thing is what circulates between us, this centrifugal synergy.
JS –
A chance to do my job there for twenty years.
What does an actor want?
To play.
Here is the most beautiful place.
Your role ?
GG–
Argan, the imaginary patient.
It is a twilight, testamentary play.
Molière died performing the fourth performance.
JS–
I came back to play Angélique in
Le Malade imaginaire
, created by Claude Stratz.
Today, I interpret Toinette there.
I have played this piece more than five hundred times.
Molière in 2022?
GG–
A creation like
Le Tartuffe
in three acts (directed by Ivo van Hove), a piece that had never been performed in this version.
JS–
He's getting younger.
Healthy !
Le Malade imaginaire,
directed by Claude Stratz, from February 23 to April 3 alternately, at the Comédie-Française, salle Richelieu.
Florence Viala and Loïc Corbery,
in “The Misanthrope”
Full screen
Florence Viala: jacket, tank top and pants, Ann Demeulemeester.
Loïc Corbery: Hermès suit, Charvet shirt, JM Weston shoes.
Olivier Metzger
Madame Figaro.-
For you, Molière is…
Florence Viala.–
A man in motion, a sort of perpetual motion.
Loïc Corbery.–
My theater baptism.
I was 15 years old and I played Valère in
Tartuffe
in Avignon, in a theater school.
At the same time, I discovered
Molière
, Ariane Mnouchkine's film...
A favorite quote?
FV–
“My reasoning is that there is something admirable in man, whatever you may say, not all scholars can explain it.”
LC–
“My reason tells me that every day.
But reason is not what rules love.
At the Comédie-Française…
FV–
We are a troupe, alive, like a muscle.
The new ones question the old ones who, for their part, pass on to the younger ones.
LC–
It's been my home for fifteen years, my artistic, loving, friendly life.
Everything revolves around this profession.
Your role ?
FV–
I'm taking over Arsinoé in
Le Misanthrope
, and I'm going to play Madeleine Béjart in Julie Deliquet's new creation, which will tell the life of the troupe at the time of Molière.
LC –
Alceste, directed by Clément Hervieu-Léger, a companionship since 2014.
Molière in 2022?
FV–
Everyone can take hold of Molière, all eras and all styles.
LC–
To continue to listen to our world and our contemporaries, as it did four hundred years ago with the same words.
The Misanthrope,
directed by Clément Hervieu-Léger, until May 22 alternately, at the Comédie-Française, salle Richelieu.
Dominique Blanc and Christophe Montenez, in “Le Tartuffe ou l’Hypocrite”
Full screen
Dominique Blanc: jacket and shirt, Agnès B, personal trousers, Pierre Hardy boots.
Christophe Montenez: APC jacket, 13 Bonaparte T-shirt, personal jeans and shoes.
Olivier Metzger
Madame Figaro.-
For you, Molière is…
Dominique Blanc.–
A very strong memory.
I played Célimène under the direction of Antoine Vitez, at Chaillot, in 1988. It was the first time that I experienced the language of Molière, that I modulated and pierced his alexandrines up to date.
Christophe Montenez.–
I came back to play Damis, the young lead in
Tartuffe
, directed by Galin Stoev in 2014. Today, at 33, I play Tartuffe, the title role.
A fetish quote…
DB–
“My soul suffers wild pain.”
CM–
"To be devout, I am no less a man."
At the Comédie-Française…
DB–
Becoming a member there was a great joy for me, since I didn't pass the conservatory competition!
CM-
I think troupe, I think family.
The only theater in France with such a substantial troupe.
An extraordinary playground.
Your role ?
DB–
I'm Dorine, not a maid like often with Molière, more like a governess, the one who protects the house, the family, the couple in this
radical
Tartuffe .
CM–
I play a Tartuffe, close to Pasolini's
Theorem
, which will blow up the family unit.
By destroying, he creates life and a future for the characters.
Molière in 2022?
DB–
Hearing the text, the language of Molière.
Still relevant !
CM–
Happy birthday, boss!
Well done !
Le Tartuffe ou l'Hypocrite,
directed by Ivo van Hove, until April 24 alternately, at the Comédie-Française, salle Richelieu.
The play captured live by Pathé is broadcast in more than 200 cinemas.
Pauline Clément and Didier Sandre,
in “Les Fourberies de Scapin”
Full screen
Pauline Clément: Patou outfit, Falke tights, Nodaleto shoes.
Didier Sandre: Personal outfit.
Olivier Metzger
Madame Figaro.-
For you, Molière is…
Pauline Clément.–
The first show I remember:
L'Avare
.
I find the same emotion when I see the eyes of little girls sparkling in the audience.
Didier Sandre.–
My launching pad.
I was the first
Dom Juan
to return to the age of the role when it was created by Lagrange: 26 years old.
Often the character was played by mature actors like Louis Jouvet, Jean Vilar, Michel Piccoli.
I owe this first spotlight to Molière.
A favorite quote?
PC–
“I feel for you and, after my horses, you are the person I love the most.”
DS–
"What the hell was he going to do in this galley?"
At the Comédie-Française…
PC–
I like the alternation that mixes modern and classic, the ping-pong between stagings!
DS–
We learn a lot.
Alternation promotes this.
You can play a tragedy and a comedy in the same day.
There is also this kind of family that is the troupe.
The actors, I love them.
Your role ?
DS
– Géronte in
Les Fourberies de Scapin
.
But I'm also working on
Georges Dandin
with Hervé Pierre and I'm taking over the role of the master of philosophy in
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme
.
Molière in 2022?
PC–
The roles of women need to be reinvented.
They are less nourished, less present and less funny than those of men.
Let's break the codes.
DS–
Still valid.
His comedies have grace.
They address important topics through laughter.
Les Fourberies de Scapin,
directed by Denis Podalydès, from April 22 to July 10 alternately, at the Comédie-Française, salle Richelieu.
Laurent Lafitte and Jennifer Decker,
in “Dom Juan”
Full screen
Laurent Lafitte: jacket and pants, 13 Bonaparte, Falke socks, JMWeston shoes.
Jennifer Decker: Alexandre Vauthier suit, Christian Louboutin pumps.
Olivier Metzger
Madame Figaro.-
For you, Molière, it's…
Laurent Lafitte.–
Freedom.
A man who managed to compose with pragmatism, freedom, freedom of spirit, freedom of speech.
Which makes it very French.
Jennifer Decker.–
My admission to the Comédie-Française.
I played Marianne in
L'Avare
.
At the end of the first, my father got up, his arms in the sky, like a football fan.
A favorite quote?
LL–
"I believe that two and two are four, and four and four are eight."
JD–
“I loved you with extreme tenderness.
Nothing in the world has been so dear to me as you."
At the Comédie-Française…
LL–
It traces… We have access to all the texts, to all the characters.
Every time I make a film, I miss the theater and when I finish a play, I miss the cinema.
JD-
It's huge!
The place where I work my art.
It is a deep joy and an incredible chance for ten years.
Your role ?
LL–
The figure of the seducer is anecdotal.
The real subject of
Dom Juan
is censorship, morality, all those who prevented Molière from playing Tartuffe.
With the director, Emmanuel Daumas, we respect the language and we make things contemporary.
JD –
Dom Juan
has returned to his century.
Emmanuel Daumas removed the romantic layer of the 19th century.
Molière in 2022?
LL– Brilliant
works span the centuries.
JD–
It's a whole season at the Comédie-Française.
A birthday, a celebration.
Dom Juan,
directed by Emmanuel Daumas, until March 6, at the Vieux-Colombier.
