Under the title Tchekhov à la folie, the Théâtre de Poche Montparnasse invites audiences to rediscover two brief but seminal plays byAnton Chekhov, La Demande en mariage and L'Ours. These two texts, which the author himself described as "jokes", nevertheless marked his first successes on stage. In this staging by Jean-Louis Benoît, the tone is resolutely farcical, with the emphasis on rhythmic intensity, the madness of the situations and the offbeat humanity of the characters.
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In La Demande en mariage, a shy man attempts to propose to his neighbor, but a series of absurd arguments and verbal escalations turns this solemn moment into a burlesque quarrel. In L'Ours, a grieving widow is confronted by a brutal creditor, and their confrontation, at first muscular, gradually turns into an unexpected flirtation. In both cases, the protagonists are drawn unwillingly into a spiral of contradictory emotions, where comedy is born of excess, misunderstanding and a keen sense of the absurd. These situations, which may seem outrageous, are aptly translated into the tugs and pulls of the human soul.
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The show would appeal as much to fans of classical theater as to those discovering Chekhov from a lighter angle. Its short, dynamic form could appeal to a wide range of audiences, especially those looking for a lively, accessible and rhythmic theatrical moment. Fans of comedies of manners or energetic verbal duels will find much to enjoy. Conversely, those who associate Chekhov with slow, introspective, melancholy theater might be surprised by the exuberance and deliberately excessive theatricality of these two plays.
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With Chekhov à la folie, the Théâtre de Poche Montparnasse offers an energetic and jubilant moment of theater, on the borderline between comedy and tragedy. A double bill in which we laugh at others while recognizing ourselves in them, in a staging that pays tribute to Chekhov's burlesque finesse.
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Dates and Opening Time
On May 13, 2025
Location
Théâtre de Poche Montparnasse
75 Boulevard du Montparnasse
75006 Paris 6
Prices
€10 - €32
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