“Forget me” crowned best private theater show, the public theater prize for the “Bourgeois gentleman” of the Comédie-Française

A “too Parisian ceremony”? Alexis Michalik starts strong for the opening of the 34th Molières ceremony which was held on Monday April 24 at the Théâtre de Paris live on France 3. The master of ceremonies Alexis Michalik quickly set the frame for the winners of the statuettes at the effigy of Molière: to thank only one person. “Alcohol is waiting for you at the exit in various forms if you lose tonight,” he said.

Marie Gillain and Alex Vizorek presented the first Molières for female and male revelations. “A word to those who return empty-handed?“Alexis Michalik asks Alex Vizorek.”Seum“, answers the latter. The two winners are Lison Pennec and Thomas Gendronneau, both actors in Glenn, birth of a prodigy by Ivan Calbérac (directed by Ivan Calbérac)

Amanda Lear and Pierre Richard

To award the prizes for best actor in a private and public show, Amanda Lear honored the four nominees from the private theater with whom she played and whom she knows well “They owe me everything“, she says with humor. It is finally Thierry Lopez who is crowned best actor in a private show for Forget me. He shared his prize with his partner Marie-Julie Baup and paid tribute to the high school students in the theater classes from which he came: “we dreamed of big things, now we are not so young but it is still worth dreaming.”

Christian Hecq received the Molière award for best actor in a public performance to cheers and ovations for his portrayal of Monsieur Jourdain in The Bourgeois Gentleman of which he cosigned the staging. It is the third Molière for the actor that he has shared with his show partners and the other nominees, two of whom are from the Comédie Française. He also praised the “nuggets” absent from the ceremony but who marked the world of theater this year.

In terms of humor, Laura Felpin is rewarded for her show It goes with Cédric Salaun and directed by Nicolas Vital. “Thank you for coming to see me because even I wouldn’t have been there!”, launched the comedian moved. She thanked Florence Foresti named for Boys Boys Boys, for having made her want to do this job: “This Molière is a bit ours!“

One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony was the nonchalant arrival of 70s comedy legend Pierre Richard. Come to award the Molière of the only one on stage to Sylvie Testud For Everybody knew by Elodie Wallace, he received a standing ovation for over two minutes. “It’s been 50 years in the business and I’m still uncomfortable on a theater set”, said the actor shyly. Sylvie Testud paid tribute to her poignant monologue inspired by Valérie Bacot, symbol of domestic violence.

Triumph of “Forget Me” and the “Bourgeois Gentilhomme”

Two shows stood out for this edition of Molières. For the public theater it is The Bourgeois Gentleman by Molière, directed by Christian Hecq and Valérie Lesort at the Comédie-Française who leaves with three statuettes. First of all that of the public theater show, but also those of the staging and the best actor in a public theater show for Christian Hecq. “We were scared to death: putting on a Molière in Molière’s house!”exclaimed Christian Hecq.

It was Sara Giraudeau who was awarded the Molière for actress in a public theater show in The Bird Syndrome by Pierre Tre-Hardy. “It’s definitely one of the best roles of my life.”, said Sara Giraudeau with a trembling voice. “I think of a bird so important in my life: my mother.“Her mother presents in the room with tears in her eyes, is none other than the actress Anny Duperey.

Private theater is the moving piece created at the Avignon “off” Festival in 2022, Forget me by Matthew Saeger, who was awarded four Molières, including that for private theater performance and directing in a private theater performance. Thierry Lopez was crowned actor Molière in a private theater show and Marie-Julie Baup actress in the same category.

Poignant speech by Kamel Isker, best actor in a supporting role

Kamel Isker gave a memorable speech after being awarded the Molière for best actor in a supporting role in Persian Dolls. Former opener at the Folies Bergères, Kamel Isker recalled the symbolic role of “the servant, this light that must not be extinguished” when the theater is deserted. “Because the soul of the theater must not be extinguished: thank you to those who lighted my path”pronounced the comedian very moved on stage.

He recalled the “incredible freedom” to be able to “raise our voices and lift the veil on our human conditions.” “I dedicate this Molière to the benevolent and the enlightening”finished Kamel Isker to thunderous applause.