She arrived in the Paris City Hall lounges with a sheet of paper in her hands. So she was going to give us a speech. However, this is not the habit of former lawyer Caroline Vigneaux who has been entrusted with the heavy task of hosting the 35th Nuit des Molières this year. A ceremony broadcast slightly delayed on France 2 from the Folies Bergère, Monday May 6, in prime time. A speech of thanks for this opportunity offered to him. “It’s good for a woman to be mistress of a ceremony, rather than someone’s mistress,” she announced straight away. Before quickly getting to the way she wants to bring this ceremony to life. “The winners have been warned, they will be prohibited from thanking their parents, their director, their producer or their cousin Paulette,” she says. On the contrary, she would like the recipients to tell us an anecdote. For example, how were they chosen in the play for which they just triumphed? Or why not an incident on set… In short, no preaching but real testimonies of a passion which devours all the nominees of this edition.
Among them, we find stars of theater and cinema such as Ariane Ascaride, Roschdy Zem, Ludivine Sagnier, Laurent Lafitte. But also many actors who benefit from being known like the promising troupe which is currently bringing triumph to the Antoine Theater, The Circle of Disappeared Poets. Gérald Sibleyras’ adaptation of Peter Weir’s cult film, which has been to full houses since January 24, obtains six nominations. One less than the surprise guest of this selection, Courgette, a huge success at the Avignon festival who set up shop this season at the Tristan Bernard. Adapted from the novel Autobiography of a Zucchini and directed by Pamela Vassard, this play is nominated in all the main categories, starting with that of best public theater show.
The play 4.211 km, directed by Aïla Navidi, is cited four times, as is Denali, directed by Nicolas Le Bricquir. Twice nominated for the Molière for female revelation, in 2018 and 2023, Vanessa Cailhol (Courgette) will face Laetitia Casta, Marina Hands and Emmanuelle Bercot for the Molière for best actress in the public. Ludivine Sagnier is nominated for the first time for the Molière of the only one on stage, for the adaptation of Consentement, the novel by Vanessa Springora which has been filming since 2022, opposite Dominique Blanc, Franck Desmedt and Eva Rami. The duel promises to be close between the former muse of Patrick Chéreau, divine in Pain, and the prodigious Franck Desmedt who was not afraid to take on an immense challenge: replaying the life of Kessel on the set of Lucernaire.
Roschdy Zem (A Special Day) is in the running for the Molière for actor in the audience, alongside Comédie-Française resident Laurent Lafitte (Cyrano de Bergerac), Micha Lescot (Richard II) and Charles Berling (After the rehearsal /Persona).
On the musical show side, Spamalot by Pierre-François Martin-Laval, a comedy adapted from the work of Monty Python, is nominated against Mamma Mia by Catherine Johnson, L’opéra de quat’sous by Thomas Ostermeier and Molière, the musical show by Ladislas Chollat.
For private theater, Ariane Ascaride is in the running for the Molière for best actress for Gisèle Halimi, une fierce liberté, as is Noémie Lvovsky, excellent in Vidéo club, Cristiana Reali (A tramway named desire) and Pascale Arbillot whose interpretation in Interruption is truly moving.
Vincent Dedienne is in the running for the Molière for actor in a private theater show, in the show Un Chapeau de paille d’Italie which is cited for two other nominations. He is the favorite, closely followed by Maxime d’Aboville (Pauvre Bitos – the dinner of heads). If the nomination of Stéphane Freiss (The Circle of Disappeared Poets) was undoubtedly not necessary, that of Thierry Frémont, cowardly in The Meal of the Fauves, is totally justified.
The star of Alexis Michalik, who presented the Molières ceremony last year, seems to be fading somewhat. His play Passeport only got one nomination, and still quite minor, since it was that of the male revelation for Kevin Razy.
The ceremony was brought forward this year by a few weeks, to Monday May 6. Which Jean-Marc Dumontet, president of the association which manages this annual ceremony, welcomes: “This will allow the awarded shows and others, those which were highlighted by this evening to benefit from the Molières effect.”
4211 km south Aïla Navidi, mise en scène Aïla Navidi, Studio Marigny et Théâtre de Belleville
The Circle of Disappeared Poets, adaptation by Gérald Sibleyras, directed by Olivier Solivérès, Théâtre Antoine
A Straw Hat from Italy, by Eugène Labiche, directed by Alain Françon, Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin
Denali by Nicolas Le Bricquir, mise en scène Nicolas Le Bricquir, Studio Marigny
40° sous zero by Copi, directed by Louis Arene, Compagnie Munstrum Théâtre
Allosaurus [same street, same cabin] by Jean-Christophe Dollé, directed by Clotilde Morgiève and Jean-Christophe Dollé, Compagnie f.o.u.i.c
Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot, directed by Paméla Ravassard, Compagnie Paradoxe(s)
Welfare based on the film by Frederik Wiseman, directed by Julie Deliquet, Théâtre Gérard-Philipe
It’s not easy to be happy when you’re feeling bad by Rudy Milstein, directed by Rudy Milstein and Nicolas Lumbreras, Théâtre Lepic
Shut up by Julien Ratel, directed by Ludivine de Chastenet and Benjamin Gauthier, Théâtre Lepic
Mondial Placard by Côme de Bellescize, directed by Côme de Bellescize, Tristan-Bernard Theater
Video club by Sébastien Thiéry, directed by Jean-Louis Benoît, Théâtre Antoine
40° sous zero by Copi, direction Louis Arene, scenography Louis Arene, costumes Christian Lacroix, lighting François Menou, Compagnie Munstrum Théâtre
The Circle of Disappeared Poets, adaptation by Gérald Sibleyras, directed by Olivier Solivérès, costumes Chouchane Abello-Tcherpachian, sets Jean-Michel Adam, lighting Denis Koransky Théâtre Antoine
Denali by Nicolas Le Bricquir, direction Nicolas Le Bricquir, scenography Juliette Desproges, lighting Maxime Moro, Studio Marigny
Neige by Pauline Bureau, direction Pauline Bureau, scenography Emmanuelle Roy, sets Emmanuelle Roy, costumes Alice Touvet, lighting Jean-Luc Chanonat, Compagnie La Part des Anges
Mamma Mia by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, Casino de Paris
Molière, the musical show by Ladislas Chollat after François Chouquet and Dove Attia, directed by Ladislas Chollat, Dôme de Paris
The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, directed by Thomas Ostermeier, Comédie-Française
Spamalot by Eric Idle, directed by Pierre-François Martin-Laval, Théâtre de Paris
Elodie Poux in The Butterfly Syndrome by Elodie Poux, directed by Florent Longépé
Fabrice Eboué in Adieu Hier by Fabrice Eboué, directed by Fabrice Eboué and Thomas Gaudin
Pablo Mira in Past simple by Pablo Mira and Morgane Riester, directed by Fanny Santer
Sophia Aram in The World After by Sophia Aram and Benoît Cambillard, directed by Sophia Aram and Benoît Cambillard
The Adventures of Pinocchio by Olivier Solivérès, directed by Olivier Solivérès, Théâtre des Mathurins
Denver, the last dinosaur by Arthur Jugnot and Guillaume Bouchède, directed by Arthur Jugnot and Guillaume Bouchède, Théâtre de la Renaissance
Icare by Guillaume Barbot, directed by Guillaume Barbot, Compagnie Coup de Poker
Neige by Pauline Bureau, directed by Pauline Bureau, Compagnie La Part des Anges
Consent with Ludivine Sagnier, by Vanessa Springora, directed by Sébastien Davis, Witches
Le Pain with Dominique Blanc, by Marguerite Duras, directed by Patrick Chéreau and Thierry Thieû Niang, Théâtre National Populaire de Villeurbanne
Kessel, freedom at all costs with Franck Desmedt, by Mathieu Rannou, directed by Mathieu Rannou, Théâtre Lucernaire and Théâtre Rive Gauche
Will love it! with Eva Rami, by Eva Rami, Théâtre Lepic
Charles Berling in After the rehearsal/Persona by Ingmar Bergman, directed by Ivo van Hove
Laurent Lafitte in Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, directed by Emmanuel Daumas
Micha Lescot in Richard II by William Shakespeare, directed by Christophe Rauck
Roschdy Zem in A Special Day by Ettore Scola, directed by Lilo Baur
Emmanuelle Bercot in After the rehearsal/Persona by Ingmar Bergman, directed by Ivo van Hove
Vanessa Cailhol in Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot, directed by Paméla Ravassard
Laetitia Casta in Une journée particulare by Ettore Scola, staged by Lilo Baur
Marina Hands in The Silence of Lorraine by Sagazan and Guillaume Poix, based on the work by Antonioni, directed by Lorraine de Sagazan
Maxime d’Aboville in Pauvre Bitos – The Dinner of Heads by Jean Anouilh, directed by Thierry Harcourt
Vincent Dedienne in A Straw Hat from Italy by Eugène Labiche, directed by Alain Françon
Stéphane Freiss in The Circle of Disappeared Poets, adaptation by Gérald Sibleyras, directed by Olivier Solivérès
Thierry Frémont in Le Repas des fauves, adaptation by Julien Sibre, directed by Julien Sibre
Pascale Arbillot in Interruption by Sandra Vizzanova, adaptation by Pascale Arbillot, Hannah Levin Seiderman and Sandra Vizzavona, directed by Hannah Levin Seiderman
Ariane Ascaride in Gisèle Halimi, a fierce freedom by Gisèle Halimi and Annick Cojean, adaptation by Agnès Harel, Philippine Pierre Brossolette and Léna Paugam, directed by Léna Paugam
Noémie Lvovsky in Video club by Sébastien Thiéry, directed by Jean-Louis Benoît
Cristiana Reali in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by Pauline Susini
Louis Arene for 40° below zero by Copi
Christophe Rauck for Richard II by William Shakespeare
Pamela Ravassard for Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot
Ivo van Hove for After the rehearsal/Persona by Ingmar Bergman
Aïla Navidi pour 4211 km south of Aïla Navidi
Olivier Solivérès for The Circle of Disappeared Poets, adaptation by Gérald Sibleyras
Alain Françon for A Straw Hat from Italy by Eugène Labiche
Nicolas Le Bricquir for Denali de Nicolas Le Bricquir
Justine Bachelet in After the rehearsal/Persona by Ingmar Bergman, directed by Ivo van Hove
Nassima Benchicou in Freud and the Maid by Leonardo de la Fuente, directed by Alain Sachs
Lucie Brunet in Denali by Nicolas Le Bricquir, directed by Nicolas Le Bricquir
Lila Houel in Daddy by Marion Siéfert, directed by Marion Siéfert
Olivia Pavlou-Graham in 4211 km from Aïla Navidi, staging Aïla Navidi
Cléo Sénia in Music-Hall Colette by Cléo Sénia and Alexandre Zambeaux, directed by Léna Bréban
Audran Cattin in The Circle of Disappeared Poets, adaptation by Gérald Sibleyras, directed by Olivier Solivérès
Martin Karmann in My name is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner, directed by Hannah-Jazz Mertens
Garlan Le Martelot in Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot, directed by Paméla Ravassard
Ethan Oliel in The Circle of Disappeared Poets, adaptation by Gérald Sibleyras, directed by Olivier Solivérès
Louis Peres in Daddy by Marion Siéfert, directed by Marion Siéfert
Yuming Hey in The Maids by Jean Genet, directed by Mathieu Touzé
Molière of the actor in a supporting role
Lionel Abelanski in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by Pauline Susini
Guillaume Bouchède in My name is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner, directed by Hannah-Jazz Mertens
Florian Choquart in Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot, directed by Paméla Ravassard
Kevin Razy in Passport by Alexis Michalik, directed by Alexis Michalik
Laurent Stocker in Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, directed by Emmanuel Daumas
Vincent Viotti in Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot, directed by Paméla Ravassard
Jeanne Arènes in The Mirror Effect by Léonore Confino, directed by Julien Boisselier
Cécile Garcia Fogel in Richard II by William Shakespeare, directed by Christophe Rauck
Charlotte Matzneff in The Eighth Heaven by Jean-Philippe Daguerre, directed by Jean-Philippe Daguerre
Alysson Paradis in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by Pauline Susini
Lola Roskis in Courgette by Paméla Ravassard and Garlan Le Martelot, directed by Paméla Ravassard
Josiane Stoléru in James Brown wearing curlers by Yasmina Reza, directed by Yasmina Reza
Léonore Confino for The Mirror Effect
Julie Deliquet for Welfare
Jean-Christophe Dollé for Allosaurus [Same street, same cabin]
Rudy Milstein for It’s not easy to be happy when you’re doing badly
Aïla Navidi pour 4211 km
Yasmina Reza for James Brown put on curlers
