Le Dindon
by Jane Rosenstein and Didier Lambert
One of our friends said he played in “Le Dindon” written by Feydeau, when he was a student at a university in Paris. As we enjoyed seeing Feydeau’s other play,” Occupe Toi de Emile “, we anticipated that we would enjoy this play too. We went with another VT journalist in Paris, Francisca Grunupp.
It is théatre de boulevard which means for the general public to be amused.
It is being performed in Théatre de la Porte Saint Martin until August 18, 2013.
The theatre was built as an opera house in 1781 commissioned by Queen Marie Antoinette. It closed and was re opened in 1802 with its current name. It is where Sarah Bernhardt, a famous comedian, performed. The play is produced by Philippe Adrien with a cast of 12 which includes:
- Alain Feudeau: Pontagnac
- Myriam Colombi: Lucienne
- Bernard Dhéran: Vatelin
- Jacques Maury; Jean
- Michel Duchaussoy: Redillon
- François Kanel: Madame Pontagnac
- Yvonne Gaudeau: Maggy
- Robert Manuel: Soldignac
- Catherine Samie: Armandine.
“Le Didon”was nomiinated for 4 nominations for Molières 2011 (Molière du Théâtre Public, Molière du metteur en scene (directing), Molière de Jeune Talent ( young actors) with Guillaume Marquet and Lauréat – Molière du Decorateur with Jean Haas.
First we enjoyed the lighting by Pascal Sautelet as it illuminated the stage in different hues and the turning stage designed by Jan Haaswhich is rare to see in Paris . The play began with a middle aged man, Pontagnac, chasing Lucienne, who was running to her house to escape him; When she arrived she told her husband, Valentin that a man was following her. This is where the story takes an interesting twist as Valentin turned out to be a friend of Pontagnac and forgave Pontiagnac; Then Maggie, a Londoner who threatened to commit suicide,who was a former mistress of Valentin entered; She was very funny speaking Marseille French very slowly with a British accent,. We all laughed. Pontagnac took advantage of the situation to tell Lucienne that he had a meeting with Maggie that night at a hotel Pontagnac hoped to get Lucienne to be his lover because she said if her husband was not faithful she would take a lover but she chose another. At the hotel , there is confusion because a retired soldier and his deaf wife reserved the room that was for Maggie and Valentin. We enjoyed laughing with the rest of the audience.
The theme is who is deceiving whom? It was very well acted by 12comedians including a policeman. The costumes were colorful and well designed. There is a reversal of roles:
Men are sex objects and women are out to get revenge.
The crowd could hardly stop laughing from one scene to the next. Le Dindon is truely very funny and a joy to watch. We recommend it for Parisians and visitors to Paris this summer.
Jane Rosenstein is a U.S. citizen living in Paris, France. She is a professional translator/interpreter. She is the owner of The International Connection which does international marketing consultation including sales of wine, interpretation, and translation.
She enjoys the cultural life that living in Paris offers and has talents in organizing events. She speaks English, French, and Spanish. She has a B.S. degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.
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