One of the most unexpected hits of the season is undoubtedly Marie-Therese Porchet, Nee Bertholet, La Truie Est En Moi which could be translated as Marie-Therese Porchet, Maiden-name Bertholet, The Sow Is Within Me. The show has been running for almost two months at the Comedie Caumartin, and tells the story of a mature woman whose daily activities include gossiping, fitness classes and Tupperware meetings. Her life is devastated when she finds the picture of a naked man in her 18-years-old son's wallet. Is he gay ? Is the "sow within him" ? In her quest for the truth, Marie-Therese will be forced to admit the facts.
The most surprising thing about the play is that Marie-Therese is portrayed by a man dressed as a woman. Joseph Gorgoni, alone on stage, portarys a mother who goes from ultimate despair to understanding love. This unconventional play with music could be seen as an unexpected mix between a Paul Rudnick (Jeffrey) play and Song and Dance...
Gorgoni is obviously a musical theatre lover and a performer. He starred in the French production of Cats, and his play is filled with Broadway references. His character sings a hymn to Tupperware boxes to the music of "I Could Have Danced All Night", dances sensually to "Adelaide's Lament," gives a tap-dance class and turns a few famous French songs into crowd-pleasing showstoppers. Gorgoni, flaunting his vocal talents in his upper range, would be perfectly cast as Mary Sunshine in a potential French-speaking production of Chicago.
This show is directed by Pierre Naftule and performed by Joseph Gorgoni. Both have written the play together. Gorgoni is from Switzerland and has become a huge phenomenom over there. Gorgoni, as Marie-Therese, has presented his show to great acclaim in his native country, and ended up starring in numerous TV programs on Swiss TV. Now Gorgoni is conquering Paris, and judging from the enthusiastic response of the audience, he is likely to become a hit here too.
For tickets and information on Marie-Therese Porchet, Nee Bertholet, La Truie Est En Moi at the Comedie Caumartin, call 331 47 42 43 41. -- By Stephane Ly-Cuong
France Correspondent
