
The originality of the show lies in the gap between the narrative provided by the voice-over (omnipresent) and the visible, concrete actions played on stage by the characters in an almost silent film: their play, sometimes very poetic, transcends narration. As a result, not only is the spectator's emotion intense, but the philosophical reflection on the meaning (s) of the work emerges: since Man sells his thought, his body, his time, in exchange for a salary, since he is constantly in exchange, barter, link, is he a "merchant"? What is he walking towards?
7.3During a writing slump, playwright J.M. Barrie meets a widow and her four children, all young boys—who soon become an important part of Barrie’s life and the inspiration that lead him to create his masterpiece. Peter Pan.
6.2After accidentally killing her lecherous producer, a famous actress tries to hide her guilt.
7.5In early 20th-century Naples, a theatrical parody lands beloved thespian and playwright Eduardo Scarpetta in court, facing a malicious lawsuit that could compromise his freedom of expression and the economic security of his extended family—including his son's, young Eduardo De Filippo.
8.8Luca Cupiello, like every Christmas, prepares the crib, amid the disinterest of his wife Concetta and his son Tommasino. Ninuccia, the other daughter, writes a letter to her husband in which she communicates that she leaves him for her lover. The letter happens in the hands of Luca who hands it over to his son-in-law, who thus learns of his wife's betrayal. During lunch on Christmas Eve, the two rivals, who were confronted by Luca's carelessness, clash violently.
The production of Shakespeare's Hamlet with František Němec in the title role (premiered at the Smetana Theatre in 1982) was far from enthusiastic at first. To some viewers, it seemed superficially unimpressive. On the spare stage of J. Svoboda, director M. Macháček focused on thinking through the relationships between the characters and their motivations, and cast great actors of the National Theatre in the roles. Macháček gradually revealed the story, like a detective story - from the message from the ghost of Hamlet's father about the manner of his death, through the play of the theatre company as proof of the murderer's guilt, to the final murderous finale... The production eventually became a Prague theatre hit and could certainly have been performed for a long time if it had not been withdrawn from the repertoire in 1988.
7.0Sofia, Don Saverio's sister, confesses to her brother that she was the victim of a fateful event: while she accompanied her brother to Rome, while he was resting at a hotel, a terrible storm broke out during the night, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Frightened, she left her room to seek refuge in her brother's, when, after the lights went out, she accidentally entered a stranger's room in the darkness and fainted from fear of a violent clap of thunder. The unknown individual seized the opportunity and took advantage of her. From that turbulent encounter, Don Felice Sciosciammocca was born, Sofia's illegitimate son, now engaged to Marietta, Don Saverio's daughter.
6.0In Naples, where the modest clerk Michele Crispucci lives with his daughter Assuntina, his ex-wife arrives with her circus. The young Concettino confides to a friend that he wants to give up his marriage to Assuntina, because twenty years earlier the girl's mother had abandoned the family and become rich by giving herself to wealthy lovers.
7.2In occupied Paris, an actress wed to a Jewish theater owner must keep him hidden from the Nazis while doing both of their jobs.
6.6A group of teenagers living in a housing project in the outskirts of Paris rehearse a scene from Marivaux's play of the same name. Krimo is determined not to take part, but after developing feelings for Lydia, he quickly assumes the main role and love interest in the play.
6.0A boy who was once a perpetual outcast finds friends in a new boarding school. United with his new peers, he gets involved in a heated rivalry with a group of students from a neighboring school.
5.0A man thinks he is not the father of his presumed daughter.
6.8Unpolished and ultra-pragmatic industrialist Jean-Jacques Castella reluctantly attends Racine's tragedy "Berenice" in order to see his niece play a bit part. He is taken with the play's strangely familiar-looking leading lady Clara Devaux. During the course of the show, Castella soon remembers that he once hired and then promptly fired the actress as an English language tutor. He immediately goes out and signs up for language lessons. Thinking that he is nothing but an ill-tempered philistine with bad taste, Clara rejects him until Castella charms her off her feet.
