Christian Hecq and Valérie Lesort Bring Clowning and Magic to French Stages

Christian Hecq and Valérie Lesort, a duo known for blending clowning, magic, and puppetry, are staging two major productions in Paris in 2022. At the Comédie-Française, their production of Molière's "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" runs until July 21, featuring Hecq in the lead role, with music by Lully transposed into Balkan brass. At the Opéra comique, Lesort directs Offenbach's "La Périchole" (final performance May 25), with costumes by Vanessa Sannino mixing cubist forms and Peruvian traditions. Hecq, a sociétaire of the Comédie-Française since 2013, previously worked in astrophysics, circus, and Philippe Genty's puppet company. Lesort, a comedian and visual artist, specializes in masks, props, and special effects, having trained at Les Guignols de l'info. Their collaborative approach, described by Éric Ruf as "as complicit as they are argumentative," aims to eliminate boredom and provoke rapid alternation between laughter and tears. The article also mentions Hecq's role in Molière's "Le Mariage forcé" at the Studio-Théâtre until July 3.