Molière's The Misanthrope

moliere misanthrope header theatre in paris
Théâtre Le Ranelagh

Until April 12, 2020

French surtitled in English (See the page)

Location

Théâtre Le Ranelagh
5 rue des Vignes, 75016 Paris
Capacity 300 seats

Duration

1 hour and 45 minutes


Details

Classic

Suitable for all ages

French with English subtitles


Highlights: Molière's The Misanthrope

It is within human nature to be deceptive in certain occasions, but Alceste does not agree with this behavior. From his point of view, he believes it is useless and wrong to be dishonest. When asked for his honest opinion about a poem, he was quite crude with his reply when evaluating the poem. This particular act lands him a lawsuit and a couple of enemies.

Story: Molière's The Misanthrope

Having first been written and performed by Moliére himself in 1666 in the acclaimed Palais Royal, and now it’s being displayed in Théâtre le Ranelagh. This humorous play illustrates what a comedy acclaimed show consisted of back in the 17th century. Still a very popular and frequented, the play is centered on corruption within the French society.

Molière's The Misanthrope is a humorous performance about one man’s constant battle with a certain flaw found in human kind’s behavior. Alceste is an aristocrat and a very honest man at that. He believes everyone else should be as honest as he, he feels disappointed with humankind for being untruthful and flattering in order to avoid confrontations. Being the way he is, a very straightforward man, Alceste’s sincerity gets him in trouble and leads him to lose the love of his life. Célimène, Alceste’s lover posses a quality that drives him to madness and jealousy. She can’t help but be coquette with other suitors.  Though Alceste finds out the truth about her seduction towards other men, he still wants her hand in marriage and for them to live a quite life away from society. The question is will Célimène agree to this?

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Théâtre Le Ranelagh

5 rue des Vignes, 75016 Paris

History and Fun Facts about the Théâtre Le Ranelagh


Step into the grand auditorium of the Théâtre Le Ranelagh, and prepare to be wowed by the ornate carved oak panelling adorning the orchestra and balconies, as well as the intricately decorated ceiling. Looking around you, it’s not hard to believe that this building is listed as one of Paris’ 'historical monuments'…

 

The Théâtre Le Ranelagh is tucked away in the heart of Paris’ 16th arrondissement, a few paces away from the Eiffel Tower on one side, and the bois de Boulogne on the other. It is built on the site of the old Château de Boulainvilliers, the estate was at the time right outside the city and covered 8 hectares (almost 12 football fields!). The theatre itself is rich in history and over 120 years old, after being converted to replace the château's music room by the landowner of the time into his own private venue where he could invite all the best-known actors and musicians in Paris to play there for him and his friends. After his death, the entire estate was destroyed to make way for the expanding city of Paris. All, that is, except for the theatre which was miraculously saved, and to this day still stands in its original spot! Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior, once inside the Théâtre Le Ranelagh you can feast your eyes on its original decor of plush red velvet seating and carved oak panelling throughout.

 

The theatre is designed in the French style, meaning all of the seats are directly facing the stage and giving the auditorium a rectangular shape. The venue also features a small bar in its foyer complete with a fireplace and enough seating for up to 80 people, perfect for a drink before the performance.

 

Not just a theatre…

For a time in the early 1900s, the theatre was used as a cinema, which was incredibly popular. The director of the world-famous film Les enfants du paradis loved the theatre, and often programmed the film to be screened there. The cinema tradition still exists at Le Ranelagh, and films are still screened there from time to time! In addition to film screenings and a show programme rich with plays by classic French playwrights, the Théâtre Le Ranelagh holds puppet shows for younger audiences and other community events.

 


Fast facts
Capacity: 300
Handicap Accessible: Yes, please contact us to ensure proper seating in accessible areas
Air conditioning: No
Heating: Yes

FAQ

Where will I be seated and will I see the subtitles properly?

There are two categories available, each of which provides a comfortable view of the subtitles. The theatre is a French style auditorium, which means that all seats face the stage and Theatre in Paris guests are centrally placed to have an optimal view of the stage and subtitles.

How do I get to the theatre?

The theatre is accessible by line 9 and the RER C, and the easiest metro stations are La Muette (Line 9) or Boulainvilliers (RER C). Our hotline can be reached in case of difficulty finding the theatre from 10 am to 7pm Paris time. For details, we invite you to consult the map above.

What do I do when I get to the theatre?

We invite you to arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the show, and present your voucher at the front desk. The theatre's English-speaking staff members will guide you to your seats.

Can I purchase a programme?

An exclusive programme in English for Molière's The Misanthrope is provided free of charge for Theatre in Paris guests. It is a perfect souvenir, with insider information on the play, the show, and the troupe.

How long does the show last?

The show lasts one hour and foty-five minutes with no intermission.

Is it a show for travellers or French people?

Thanks to our subtitles, both! This production of Molière's The Misanthrope has been performed in French for years in Paris and on tour across Europe, enjoying endless success. With the English subtitles, forget about the language barrier and enjoy an amazing French night out.

Subtitles or “surtitles”?

Surtitles (also called supertitles) are the theatre equivalent of subtitles. That’s because in French “sur” means “above”. At the Théâtre Le Ranelagh, the text is projected above the stage. Read more about surtitles here.

Is tipping customary?

Tips are not mandatory in Parisian theatres. However, ushers will usually expect a small tip of between 2€ and 5€, which you can give them when they've shown you to your seat. Fun fact: the French word for “tip” is “pourboire,” which literally translates to “to have a drink.”