The Bourgeois Gentleman starring Jean-Paul Rouve at the Gymnase Theatre

At Théâtre Antoine, Jean-Paul Rouve takes on the role of Monsieur Jourdain in The Bourgeois Gentleman, a classic masterpiece by Molière. Directed by Jérémie Lippmann, this production offers a sung and choreographed version that captures the spirit of the comédie-ballet. The show, which has attracted a wide audience, will now be performed at the Théâtre du Gymnase starting February 7, 2026.

The staging unfolds a baroque universe, built around sophisticated costumes, elaborate wigs, and a set designed to evoke the splendor of a world where the art of appearance dominates. According to the artistic dossier, the team explores the codes of total theater by combining theater, music, singing, and dance. Monsieur Jourdain is taught by a succession of tutors, creating a theatrical rhythm reminiscent of the choreographed entertainment of courtly creations.

Molière's text depicts the social rise dreamed of by a bourgeois fascinated by the nobility. The comic elements are based on fencing, philosophy, and dance lessons, romantic stratagems, and the "false Turks" episode, a moment when the show fully embraces visual burlesque. This adaptation highlights the misunderstandings and theatrical conventions that structure the work's social satire.

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Alongside Jean-Paul Rouve, the cast includes Marie Parouty, Marie Parisot, Michaël Cohen, Joseph Olivennes, Audrey Langle, Jean-Louis Barcelona, and Eleonora Garasso. The project brings together a troupe of actors, singers, and dancers, accompanied by an artistic team that works on a baroque aesthetic accessible to the general public.

This production is in line with shows that play on the cross-disciplinary nature of the performing arts. It is aimed at audiences curious to rediscover a classic of the repertoire in a spectacular form, as part of the Théâtre Antoine's season.

The show is set to debut at the Théatre du Gymnase starting February 7, 2026.

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