Le Repas des fauves returns to Paris at the Théâtre Hébertot until April 28. A great success for several years and winner of 3 Molières awards, the return of this play was eagerly awaited.
Written in 1960 by Vahé Katcha, the play was surprisingly only performed and staged years later, in 2009. It will be performed for the first time in Paris, directed by Julien Sibre, at the Michel and Palais-Royal theaters. Two years later, it was awarded the Molières: Molière for Best Adaptor, Molière for Best Director and Molière for Best Private Theatre Show of the Year. The play returned to the Théâtre Hébertot in 2023, still directed by Julien Sibre.
Julien Sibre, an actor as well as a director, trained at the Les Enfants Terribles theater school. He is also a professional dubbing artist, providing French voices for actors such as Martin Freeman and Eddie Kaye Thomas .
Some of the actors who played a role in the play when it was first created are back on stage: Cyril Aubin(Johnny in Le Miel et les abeilles), Stéphanie Hédin, Jérémy Prévost, Barbara Tissier and Alexis Victor. New artists joining the play in 2023 include actor Thierry Fremont(12 Hommes en colère, the Liaison series) and Benjamin Egner .
Le Repas des Fauves is set during the Second World War, more specifically theGerman Occupation. Seven guests spend the evening together to celebrate their host's birthday. All goes well, until two German officers are shot dead below their apartment building. The Gestapo quickly arrived and decided to take two of the guests hostage. Ironically, the German commander recognizes one of the hostages as his bookseller and decides to leave them alone until dessert, when he will come back to collect his hostages. Only one instruction is given: they must choose between them who will be the two hostages he will come to collect...
Le Repas des Fauves runs at the Théâtre Hébertot in Paris's 17th arrondissement until April 28.
Our verdict
Le Repas des Fauves features a company of 7 talented actors. Thierry Frémont, in the role of a cowardly, irritable man, is exceptional. In a staging that was originally rather classical, a poignant set design is added, almost plunging us into a frightening atmosphere. The discrepancy between the initially pleasant evening that unfolds before our eyes and the dark video we discover at several points in the play is very interesting.
The intelligent writing of Le Repas des Fauves makes the audience ask questions. We wonder how we would have reacted if faced with such a dilemma. What role would we have taken on? The play pushes us to really question ourselves and human beings in general. At times, we're even disturbed by the comments made by the actors, comments probably made by French people during the Occupation. Of course, we want to forget this period and believe that all of France was resistant, but Julien Sibre reminds us that we can't, in a fair and very funny play.
Dates and Opening Time
From March 14th, 2024 to April 28th, 2024
Location
Théâtre Hébertot
78 bis boulevard des Batignolles
75017 Paris 17
Prices
€15 - €45
Official website
www.theatrehebertot.com
More information
Wednesday to Saturday at 9 p.m. Saturday matinees at 4 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
