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Friday, March 17, 2023

Le Bourgeois gentilhomme | Opéra Comique

Last night I went to the delightful OPERA COMIQUE.
Have you been?


Recently renovated 
And a 5 minute walk from Opera Garnier. It is a stunning period building from 1886

Inside and out. 

Iwish I had taken more pictures 🤔
Instead I immediately started doodling ✏️  😊
Once the curtain rose…
It was nonstop doodling in the dark. Always an interesting surprise when the lights 💡  come on 😳
Did I say I was seeing, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, the story of a foolish man with delusions of grandeur (haven’t we all), written in 1640, but still quite valid today 👍
By Moliere with divine baroque music by Jean-Babtiste Lully.
The  Les 
Musiciens du Louvre was conducted by Théotime Langlois de Swarte. On occasion he would play the violin as well. We had good seats so I could see him. How I wished I’d seen ‘Tar’- now a must-see.
Back to our story. Monsieur Jourdain is studying the arts and good manners, (fencing, dancing, singing). 
Believing it is never too late to learn and hopefully climb up the social ladder. 
M.Jourdain gets a very silly philosophy leçon. The entire play is silly, a farce as most Moliere plays are, of the 
Comédie-ballet genre.
Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense; satireparody, and mockery of real-life situations, people, events, and interactions; unlikely and humorous instances of miscommunication; ludicrous, improbable, and exaggerated characters; and broadly stylized performances.
What a misfortune for M.Jourdain to be born bourgeois during the reign of 
Louis XIV!
You can see the updated set design above 👆 is based on the original. 
Back to our story. Of course M. Jourdain, who already has a sensible wife (to the right of the maid), longs to have a fling with a prestigious Marchioness and is foolishly sending her diamonds 💎 etc.
Of course M.Jourdain would like his sensible daughter to marry an aristocrat, though she is already in love with a merchant. This will no do! Here he is, all dolled up, the maid is laughing at his feathers and bows.
Of course M. Jourdain, for all his delusions of grandeur, 
is completely fooled. His daughter marries the man of her choice, whilst her father thinks he is upper-crust.
Did I say the brilliant, 
Jérôme Deschamps both stage directs this production and plays M. Jourdain! Jérôme Deschamps was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine. 

Two influential uncles: the first is an actor, Hubert Deschamps, the second renown filmmaker, Jacques Tati.
The 1st intermission was 2 hours in. Sadly 😭we left this delightful performance 🎭 and missed the last act. I encourage you to stay till the end of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, I regret leaving ☹️ the ticket prices are reasonable. The theater decor is brilliant. I hope to go back. It is on till 26 Mars. I will be going back for more (and make sure not to leave early)👍
    Don’t forget to stop in my shop for PARIS GIFTS 🎁 
                       ❤️💋❤️from Your friend in Paris❤️💋❤️

29 comments:

  1. Having Jacques Tati as an uncle would certainly be something to live up to in directing comedy!

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    1. Anonymous5:18 AM

      I would have LOVED having Jacques Tati as my uncle ❤️

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    2. He could really say he was "mon oncle"! :) My favourite film <3

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    3. Anonymous4:11 AM

      Very witty 😊 Mine too 👍

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  2. Anonymous6:04 AM

    So happy to hear you enjoyed it 💓I totally understand you left after two hours...it was very long 😅
    I think they should have reduced the play to 2 hours 👍

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:05 AM

      The actual MOLIERE play is FOUR hours ! 😳

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  3. I forget everything I learned about this pièce de Molière in school...Must have been a lovely..albeit long outing;)

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    1. Anonymous12:22 PM

      But Moliere is always witty & fun! The time flies

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  4. Have passed this building many times but never attended a performance. I am so impressed that you doodled in the dark! Now that is talent!🗼❤️

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    1. Anonymous12:11 PM

      How sad. Its a wonderful building and there are posters everywhere for their productions. Next time Please Go 👏

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  5. Bonnie L10:30 AM

    Delightful! Paris has so many wonderful diversions. Love your sketches.

    BTW…the Guardian, Daily Mail, and LeMonde are also reporting on the rat/trash problem. It’s not just the NYT. I sincerely wish Mayor Hidalgo would address this.

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    1. Anonymous12:10 PM

      It is the result of the recent manifestation and not the Mayor’s problem. It will be taken care of shortly no doubt.

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  6. Wow amazing to see the photos of the production. How wonderful to get to see this. Usually photos are not allowed during shows in NY theaters so this felt like a sneak peak!

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    1. Anonymous12:08 PM

      No, No I did not take any photos during the production. They are screenshots from videos on Youtue. There are links in the post 👍

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    2. Anonymous12:23 PM

      PS I did not take the picture of Jacques Tati either. I wish I had…

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  7. Anonymous12:04 PM

    Your Drawings or doodles are brilliant and so is your writing 👏 GS

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    1. Anonymous12:20 PM

      Thank you GS Such an inspiring production.

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  8. I wouldn’t make it either! Thank you for the synopsis and photos. The costumes look divine! Are the seat here as uncomfortable as Opera Garnier?

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    1. Anonymous12:20 PM

      Hmmm…well the seats at Opera Bastille are Very comfortable. I don’t know about Opera Garnier..I only did the tour. They are moderately comfortable at OC, but it is well worth it 👍😊❤️

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  9. Sukicart12:43 PM

    I am really impressed by your doodling in the dark. Most of us would be hard pressed to do that well in full light.

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    1. Anonymous1:19 PM

      Thanks Suki,
      We were in the 4th row…but I was drawing gesturally, by feel and the movement of the actors.

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  10. Anonymous1:16 PM

    The costumes are really fabulous.
    The building looked magnificent.
    The seating is elegant.
    What fun
    Lynne

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  11. Anonymous1:17 PM

    No one caught my multiple misspellings of bourgEois!

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  12. Anonymous1:23 PM

    Charming. Thanks for sharing, and that photo with mon uncle Tati! Kate

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    1. Anonymous1:24 PM

      Be sure and watch the video!

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  13. Anonymous1:57 PM

    Oh my goodness, Carol, what a teacher you are! I have been to the Garnier Opera house but haven’t been to an opera there. EXQUISITE indeed that place and that ceiling is! I CAN’T WAIT FOR YOUR BOOK!!! 😊❤🤍💙 Carla

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  14. Thanks for the great review, with love drawn pictures! Two hour interval is long, but the post interval part is often shorter. I have been to a few long plays in the past and they were good, you just have to be mentally prepared for the length, and not hungry or anything!
    Went to a great performance last night, 1.5 hours no interval, but it actually felt quite long sometimes!

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    1. Anonymous8:13 PM

      Wait…no, the intermission was normal..15-20 minutes.
      The first act was 2 hours
      I think the second act was probably much shorter.
      Total = 3 hrs

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  15. Anonymous2:46 PM

    Just want to say once again what a beautiful blog you have created: your writing your photos your paintings your generous information is wonderful. Every time. Congrats. B

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