The Boulevard Romand theatre company presents: "OSCAR"

“On that particular morning, the high-powered business entrepreneur Bertrand Barnier realised pretty early on that he should not have got out of bed. And he was about to have a nightmare of a day...

One of those days you wouldn’t even wish on your worst enemy, a hellish day when everyone – absolutely everyone – is conspiring against you!”

Barnier experiences this living nightmare, having to deal with bags whose contents change with every hour that passes, while his daughter changes her look and her fiancé every time a door slams shut.

To cap it all, his accountant and right-hand man, the brash Christian Martin has shamelessly and boldly embezzled from him, then persuading him that it is actually a good deal for Barnier and, what’s more, he wants to marry Barnier’s daughter.

Everyone’s in league together against Bertrand Barnier, even the maid who dreams of getting married and ascending to the aristocracy...

And he can’t even rely on the support of his wife, the ever-charming Madame Barnier, who takes it all in her stride, with great composure and an unfailing smile.

And, then, we have Oscar, the chauffeur Barnier has sacked. Oscar who is always leaving and then coming back, always at a most inopportune moment.

And also Philippe, Barnier’s personal trainer, a pea-brained half-wit.

Oh, and let’s not forget that wretched bag, the one that never has in it what Barnier wants it to contain.

“Oscar” is a three-act comedy by Claude Magnier, which premiered at the Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris in 1958.

The main roles in that first ever production were played by Pierre Mondy, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Maria Pacôme, with Jacques Mauclair as the director. However, the comedy really became a box-office hit with Louis de Funès in the leading role in a run of almost 600 performances between 1959 and 1972. It was later adapted for the cinema by Édouard Molinaro in 1967, with de Funès again taking the starring role, alongside Claude Rich and Claude Gensac.

The play was adapted once again in an English-language film version in 1991 by US director John Landis, starring Sylvester Stallone, Ornella Muti and Marisa Tomei. The title “Oscar” was retained for the English version, but was titled “L’Embrouille est dans le Sac” in its release for French-speaking audiences.

Director: Antony Mettler

Actors: Virginie LEMOINE, Pierre AUCAIGNE, Anne-France TARDIVEAU, Frank ARNAUDON, Marie FONTANNAZ or Estelle BRIDET, Maeva BONGARD, Christian SAVARY, Jacques VASSY or Stéphane BAQUET

Set design & costumes: Virginie Aucaigne

Scenery & sets: Jacques Vassy

Lighting: Vincent Orlandini

Wigs & sound: Marianne Braconnier

Stage managers: Noël Baye and Stéphane Baquet

Admin: Sylviane Vassy

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