At the Théâtre Marigny, there was a crowd the other evening. We played Ruy Blas with a young unknown lead, Basile Larie, in the title role. On his CV, we read that he was passionate about skiing and mountaineering. It was only in 2020 that he decided to leave his sticks and carabiners to join the Cours Florent. When he crossed paths with Jacques Weber, the latter hired him for his first major role and here he was propelled into Ruy Blas, a Ruy Blas a little too green. Our parents or grandparents may remember Gérard Philipe in the role of the poor valet. It was in 1954 and under the direction of Jean Vilar…
It has often happened to us, in the theater, to listen when the voice of an actor or actress does not carry enough. We thought this was impossible with Jacques Weber, this actor with an impressive chest. That evening, there was a fog in his voice which somewhat spoiled his entrance on stage. Little by little, his voice became more flamboyant. In a boneless black setting, the great Jacques Weber plays Don Sallust, this unscrupulous old scoundrel. Weber is also the director of the affair and he decided not to place the play in any particular era. We are not at the end of the 17th century, we would rather be in an indefinite time and space.
In the role of Don Caesar, Sallust’s adventurer cousin, Kad Merad. The room awaited her like the messiah, she was neither disappointed nor impressed. Dressed in rags, shopping bag in hand, we let ourselves be taken in by his frank relaxation. The director gives him carte blanche, which allows him to put on his show. Act IV, 2nd scene, he starts dancing in a Las Vegas type atmosphere. We will like it or not.
It is not Jacques Weber or Kad Merad who impress in this Ruy Blas. No, they are the excellent Jean-Paul Muel (dressed like Elton John from his heyday) in the role of Don Guritan and Stéphane Caillard in the dress of the Queen of Spain. Stéphane Caillard is grace, elegance. Long and delicate, enhanced by the lights of Georges Lavaudant. We noticed it in War, by Lars Norén, where it proved heartbreaking.
At the Jacques Tati Cultural Center in Amiens and soon at the Cartoucherie in Paris, Olivier Mellor (and the Compagnie du Berger) presents his staging of Victor Hugo’s drama. For him, Ruy Blas would be, it’s not untrue, like a romantic blockbuster. His version – complete, more classic than that of Jacques Weber but not exempt from some fantasies. A quartet enhances the plot.
In the role of Don Salluste, Stephen Szekely, in that of Ruy Blas, Emmanuel Bordier, in that of the queen, Caroline Corme, and Rémi Pous plays Don César. The latter makes a strong impression while doing less than Kad Merad, which is not very complicated. Here too, a minimal but very well thought out decor but there too, an unconvincing lackey. There is some solid work in this show that deserves and does hold attention. We don’t get bored, which is the least we can do.
At the Marigny Theater (Paris 8th). Such. : 01 86 47 72 77. Until December 29.
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At the Jacques Tati Cultural Center, Amiens (80) – (www.compagnieduberger.fr). And from November 16 to December 3 at the Cartoucherie-Théâtre de l’Épée de Bois, (Paris 12th). Such. : 01 48 08 39 74.
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