It was the event. Television channels were present in front of the Édouard VII theater, this October 4 at 7:40 p.m., for the grand return of Pierre Arditi, 78, after seven days of rest at home. Journalists questioned spectators at the entrance.
“Yes, I’m a fan and I like entertaining plays,” replied a Parisian whose tickets had been canceled following the actor’s illness. “One thing’s for sure, it’s not going to start on time!” noticed a fifty-year-old in a suit, obviously arriving straight from the office. The theater was crowded. Even the jump seats were busy. “We come for the names, Pierre Arditi and Muriel Robin,” said a young Toulon resident invited by his friend.
The lights went out. The curtain rose on Pierre Arditi, standing all in black in the middle of a living room. The audience immediately applauded wildly. A current of sympathy ran through the room.
The doorbell rang insistently. Elegant in a white blouse, Muriel Robin entered in turn and was also greeted with applause. The comedian comes to dinner at his friend’s house, like every Monday, his day off. “How’s my Pierrot?” “, asks “Mumu”. The room bursts into laughter. “Look, not too bad,” he replies calmly.
The reason for Pierre Arditi’s absence is on everyone’s mind. Every line is an excuse to giggle. “Pierre is exhausted! It shows!” shouts Muriel Robin. We’re going to talk about small prostate problems…”.
We quickly understand that the actors are playing doubles of themselves. Their “characters” will understand that they are not alone, but it would be a shame to say more. True and false mingle in this comedy full of mischief, humor and emotion. “I will have the whole of death to rest!”, warns Pierre Arditi. On the set, there is the poster for the film Smoking no smoking for which he won the César for best actor.
Sparkling eyes, alert words, the actor who was afraid of running out of energy seems to have regained all his strength. He’s still so convincing when he gets angry. His partner has nothing to envy him. “I’m scared, but that’s normal,” he confided a few days ago. But on stage, he who lives only for the theater, lives again.
Last Wednesday, he suffered vagal discomfort and hypoglycemia about twenty minutes after the start of the performance of Lapin, the play written for him and Muriel Robin by Samuel Benchetrit. The theater had been evacuated and the Samu had transported the actor to the Lariboisière hospital, in the 10th arrondissement in Paris. He underwent examinations, then was able to return home during the night. “It’s not a stroke,” he clarified.
Lapin, until January 6, 2024, at the Théâtre Édouard VII 75009. Location: 01 47 42 59 92.
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