SHARING WITH ME

I was off to the Comédie Française to see a play  « Un Chapeau de Paille d’Italie » (A straw hat from Italy ). The critics were quite good and l wanted to give this theatre another chance. The last four shows I have seen, l have either walked out at interval or suffered because l had been invited. 

As it was during the mourning period following the Nice terrorist attacks, it was touching that the full cast and direction came out on stage before the curtain went up for a minute of silence. Then the show began. This time at least we would be able to hear the actors further back than the fourth row. They were all wearing microphones. This is the major theatre in for the classics and actor training centre and yet none of the actors can project. The first growl was growing in my throat. 

The second growl came a few minutes later when what should have been funny, was positively vulgar. That too is something l find hard to take in French comedy, instead of playing it straight faced and tong

« This is not a show “about” Michel Houellebecq, but a show “by” Michel Houellebecq, demonstrating how the writer has produced a form that contributes to the reinvention of exhibitions, by mixing up literature and photography, between fact and fiction Poet, essayist, novelist and filmmaker, Michel Houellebecq has always had close ties with the cinema and the world of the visual arts, which have accompanied and extended his reflexions since the start of his career, as the frequent allusions to them in his novels attest. This show is a scenario, leading visitors through the writer’s obsessions. Made up of sounds, photographs, installations and films he has conceived, as well as the presence of several guest artists (Robert Combas, Raphaël Sohier, Renaud Marchand and Maurice Renoma) it will offer an immersion into the world and mind of the protean creator who is Michel Houellebecq. » I took that straight off the Palais de Tokyo’s description of the exhibition. The day before I went, I