The Parisians, without knowing it, just like Monsieur Jourdain in the “Bourgeois Gentilhomme” all have something of the great Molière. They are sometimes misanthropes, rarely tartuffes, often Don Juan, as for the Parisiennes, they are scholars and their sick husbands are imaginary. Paris celebrates the great playwright comedian in this year 2022 for the 400th anniversary of his birth. And who else but Léon Zitrone, the Sganarelle of the small screen to best present the great Molière.
And yes the Comédie Française, jewel of Paris, in the first arrondissement is indeed the house of Molière. And throughout this tribute year, the boarders and actors will play “The imaginary patient”, “The miser” and “The trickery of Scapin”. Listen to this archive document from the 70s, Jacques Toja, member of the comedy Frenchwoman, known to the general public for having played a dazzling Louis XIV in the series of Angéliques presents the house of Molière.
Unavoidable, all the great actors of all time have performed plays by Molière : Molière himself, the great Talma, Napoleon’s favorite actor and more contemporary: Michel Serrault, Valérie Mairesse, Catherine, Jacob, Rosy Varte, Jean Pierre Darras, Michel Galabru, Guillaume Gallienne, Pierre Niney, without forgetting Louis Jouvet who played him all the pieces from the repertoire of Molière and even his death which occurred on February 17, 1673, at his home rue Richelieu in Paris just after having played “The imaginary patient” one last time.
If Paris celebrates Molière, it is the same in Versailles with an exhibition “Molière, the factory of national glory”, and then I refer you to an excellent book written by Jean Louis Marrou, L’Harmattan edition, “A funny Parisian named Molière”.