Play: Jealousy

First staged at the Bouffes Parisiens in 1915, Sacha Guitry’s play hasn’t aged a bit, brought to life here by an exemplary cast: Michel Fau as a magnificent cuckold, Geneviève Casile, a legend of the Comédie-Française, delightfully sharp as a world-weary mother-in-law; Gwendoline Hamon, full of subtlety in her role as Marthe, whose intelligence is destructive; and Alexis Moncorgé as a vain scribe… Add to that Guitry’s sharp-tongued dialogue (half-deadly, half-scathing!), sumptuous sets and elegant costumes, and a meticulously precise yet fluid direction that provides ample room for the actors to shine—and the comedy regains the sparkle of its youth. It asserts its modernity because behind this “miniature tragedy” centered on vanity, fear, seduction, and the torments of coupledom, the smiles and laughter echo crueler truths. This speaks to the depth and ambiguity of this timeless and exhilarating comedy!