To say that when it was written, this comedy was about two female roommates who had just ordered “the ideal man” due to not finding him through usual means. Fifteen days before the premiere, five years ago, one of the two actresses decided to withdraw from the venture, and a male actor replaced her. The script unintentionally took on another dimension, becoming even more tantalizing with a homosexual man opposite a woman who is also searching for that elusive man.
On one side, there is Nounette (Fabienne Colson), an old maid with little money, harassed on the phone by her mother, and sporting an outdated look; on the other, there is Charles-Edouard (David Bancel), a fashion designer and homosexual with no financial worries, especially since he receives a monthly check from his mother, who wants to make up for her lack of love.
Despite a makeover orchestrated by Charles-Edouard, Nounette’s latest romantic date failed once again, prompting the two protagonists to take the plunge and make this rather unorthodox order. The choice—by catalog—goes smoothly between the two. The wait is stressful and somewhat nerve-wracking; it’s as if they are two children waiting for their gift or toy. She is the one who receives the “slightly cumbersome object,” and despite the enormous temptation to open it alone, the operation takes place in the presence of both, but it is he who delivers the liberating cut with the scissors…
This human robot (Sébastien El Fassi) is supposed to meet all needs—even making TV—but naturally, they differ given the situation. A toy for two with different tastes often causes problems and leads to confrontations. The activation of the artificial man is epic and somewhat zany, but the worst is yet to come. Being programmed and deprogrammed by one or the other for their own interests, the machine suffers a massive “bug,” and the reboot is particularly surprising.
If the comedy was tailor-made for Fabienne Colson by Brigitte Rico five years ago, it is perfectly suited to celebrate the holiday season in good spirits thanks to a compact, energetic production that involves the audience in the ridiculousness and absurdity of this “order,” making them active participants in the comedy. After five years and some two hundred and twenty performances, the trio, tireless and breathtaking, won the Gémenos 2008 Humor Festival with this comedy.
The show is staged at the Théâtre du Port in Nice — where Sébastien manages the workshops — for the weekend after Christmas and also to help you end the last night of the year 2008 with laughter, easily and without restraint. Don’t miss it…
“A Man at Any Price” by Brigitte Rico / Directed by Fabienne Colson / Cast: David Bancel, Fabienne Colson, and Sébastien El Fassi
