Established by three men who sang together in a choir, one of them a professional opera singer, ‘Theatre in Paris’ has been helping English-speaking people enjoy French performances for the last few years by providing sub-titling at various venues throughout the City of Lights.

Among the theaters the group works with are Théâtre du Ranelagh, Le Comedia, Théâtre Edgar, Salle Gaveau, Théâtre Edouard VII and Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse.

The latter venue is hosting ‘Molière in Spite of Myself’ starring, written, and directed by Comédie Française actor Francis Perrin. This one-person play focuses on the last fifteen years of the legendary French playwright and actor’s chaotic and difficult life, including the women he loved, the friends he valued and the enemies he loathed. The plot also involves various notable encounters such as that with King Louis XIV and examines the strange circumstances surrounding the artist’s death.

Photo used with permission from Theatre in Paris

Theatre in Paris is also facilitating the booking process for Anglophones and non-French speakers for the show, ‘Les Virtuoses’ at Theatre des Nouveautes. If it’s the magic and mystery of music you seek, don’t miss this utterly enchanting and mesmerizing performance.

Combining madcap humor, majestic musicianship and the spine-tingling thrill of illusion, duet De Mathias and Julien Cadez create a fantasy world of make-believe on stage that transforms adults into children and children to laugh with utter delight and both to gasp with wonder at the sheer irrational, fairy-tale nature of what’s happening before their disbelieving eyes.

Photo used with permission from Theatre in Paris

How could it be otherwise when you have 90 minutes of absolute Alice-In-Wonderland-cum-Harry-Potter-cum-Charlie Chaplin-like stage brilliance that encompasses a dancing table, a glass of wine floating in thin air, flames that flicker in the strangest of places and a small ball of light that flies playfully around the room while singing opera. Both performers are brilliant at tickling the keys, entwining their bodies around each other contortion-like to play classics from Chopin to Beethoven to Mozart, with one even performing upside down as his rising body defies the law of gravity.

Photo used with permission from Theatre in Paris

As for audience participation, aside from repeated rounds of enthusiastic applause, the involvement of several people playing invisible instruments is both funny and touching at the same time. If this high-class show was in Vegas, New York or London, you’d pay a very high ticket price. Here it’s a wondrous gift.

From September, star of popular French sitcom akin to ‘Modern Family,’ Guillaume de Tonquédec, and the très drôle actress and director, Léa Drucker, star in the boulevard comedy, ‘Real Life’ at Théâtre Edouard VII. With an outlandish plot and enigmatic characters, this play comprises a hastily-planned home makeover, unwanted plants and mysterious revelations.

Photo used with permission from Theatre in Paris

Théâtre Edouard VII in the city’s 9th district close to the Paris Opera, was founded in 1913 and named after a King who reputedly was extremely fond of Parisian women. Built in English style, it features a framed proscenium stage and two-tier balcony and is reputedly haunted by the ghost of Orson Welles who once worked there. At the show we attended here, a lovely English lady, Kate, met all the guests of Theatre in Paris before curtain-up and gave a short history of the theater and the actors and play itself.

Photo used with permission from Theatre in Paris

Continuing the Molière theme, from September at Théâtre Ranelagh, is ‘Molière’s The Miser.’ Follow the old character, Harpagon, as his obsession with wealth takes you on a comical journey involving his unraveling paranoia about thieves and his desire to be a great matchmaker for his children. With his servant caught in the crossfire, this satirical performance involving scheming, arranged marriage plans and threats is a fresh take on a timeless piece by the playwright. Forget living happily-ever-after in love. All that matters to Harpagon is money.