The Best Shows to Book ASAP

The plot. Welcome to Hollywood! In 1935, the biggest movie star is her: Lily Da Costa. To sum her up in a few words: a charismatic and alcoholic diva, a man-eater, married to a broke yet handsome Spanish aristocrat, and whose agent can no longer tolerate her whims. An old lover resurfaces while her servants clumsily plot her kidnapping to demand a ransom. Amidst this chaos appears Deborah, Lily’s twin sister. A true country bumpkin, she arrives from Minnesota with her pastor husband, determined to bring order to this near-lost cause. Even if it means slipping into her high heels and glittering gowns…

Why you’ll love it. Saying that Lily & Lily is a cult comedy would be an understatement. Originally played by the incomparable Jacqueline Maillan in 1985 (a total hit!), this play is now reborn thanks to the wonderful Michèle Bernier, undeniably the Queen of the stage, capable of captivating an entire audience with just a few words. The actress plays both characters at once, swiftly switching between straw hats and evening gowns at a frantic pace. What energy! Marie-Pascale Osterrieth’s direction brings a wildly girly boudoir set and a dynamic cast delivering a brilliantly hilarious script that will keep you smiling from start to finish. Special mention, of course, to Francis Perrin, whose evident chemistry with Michèle Bernier will have you bursting into laughter.

Lily et Lily, Théâtre de Paris, 15 rue Blanche, Paris 9e. Until April 27, 2025.

The plot. A gallery owner in London, Emma (Marie Kauffmann) is married to Robert (Marc Arnaud), a publisher. The play opens with a confession—not of love or hidden feelings, but Emma’s admission to her lover, Jerry (Swann Arlaud): she tells him that she has confessed to her husband that she has been cheating on him for seven years with Jerry, who is also Robert’s best friend. A one-night affair? On the contrary—the lovers even rented an apartment outside the city to meet in secret. How does Robert find out about the betrayal? How did the fear of being caught replace the initial thrill for Emma? Why did she give in to this extramarital relationship despite the security of her marriage? All these questions unfold in reverse order, from the end to the beginning of the affair.

Why you’ll love it. Harold Pinter, Nobel Prize in Literature 2005 and author of the novel the play is adapted from, narrates this toxic love triangle through a reversed chronology, going against the usual storytelling structure. The challenge was clear: how to surprise the audience when they technically know the ending from the very first minute? Fortunately, the casting is absolutely flawless: Marie Kauffmann plays a distressed Emma, torn between her husband and her lover; Marc Arnaud embodies, down to the smallest expressions, a betrayed yet resigned husband; and as for Swann Arlaud (Anatomy of a Fall), he is simply outstanding, portraying the neglected lover, the passionate one, and finally the worshipped one who started it all. A special mention for the ultra-minimalist staging: with few props on stage, the focus is entirely on the actors’ subtle performances, immersing us deeply in their anxieties and tensions.

Trahisons, Théâtre de l’Œuvre, 55 rue de Clichy, Paris 9e. Until March 30, 2025.
© Caroline Bottaro

The plot. Christophe Honoré takes us on a journey through the AIDS era, reviving his idols from the film industry who passed away from the disease, which caused a true catastrophe in the Parisian artistic community: Cyril Collard, Serge Daney, Jacques Demy, Hervé Guibert, Bernard-Marie Koltès, and Jean-Luc Lagarce. Despite the heavy subject, there’s singing, dancing, and bursts of laughter throughout Idoles, a moving play about illness, desire, and our stance on death. The director brilliantly shatters prejudices, offering a deep political reflection on the ‘80s and ‘90s, a pivotal time for the LGBTQ+ community, which endured repeated losses and cruel stigmatization from the media and politicians.

Why you’ll love it. A sharp, intellectual, and emotionally rich play, it oscillates between tears and chuckles as it revisits the defining moments of an era. Christophe Honoré (Marcello Mio, Love Songs) masterfully brings back the deceased figures of French cinema for one evening, creating a true journey through time. Marina Foïs, breathtaking, embodies (since 2018, when the play premiered at the Théâtre National de Bretagne and later at the Odéon, earning her the Molière Award for Best Actress in 2019) a Hervé Guibert shattered by Michel Foucault's death. Jacques Demy is portrayed by the fabulous Marlène Saldana, delivering an utterly wild showgirl performance that we absolutely adore. A contemporary classic you must see at least once in your life.

Les Idoles, Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin, 18 boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris 10e. Until April 6, 2025.

The plot. It’s impossible to truly summarize a Roman Frayssinet show! What we can tell you is that the comedian has a fresh batch of hilarious anecdotes to share—just like at a café!

Why you’ll love it. We loved his previous shows, filled with the philosophical musings of a Parisian under psychedelics, then of a comedian recognized on the street, trading weed for chill nights with his Sphynx cat.

⚠️ This new solo show by Roman Frayssinet isn’t currently running, but you’ll need to be quick on March 9 to grab tickets for his Olympia dates in November—they’ll sell out fast!

Roman Frayssinet in Ô Delà, next performances from November 26 at L’Olympia, 28 boulevard des Capucines, Paris 9e.
© Quentin Eveno

And if we made the most of the cold days by treating ourselves to a theater night in the most beautiful red seats of the capital? Aim for the winning trio of the best shows of the moment: François Cluzet in the role of a psychiatric patient, Laure Calamy playing a woman wearing a man’s skin to infiltrate local taverns, or the story of the one who wasn't chosen to play Harry Potter in the movies. Let's book it urgently!

For whom? Fans of Intouchables who want to see François Cluzet again.

The pitch. Robert, a therapist and essayist (who loves talking about his novel), can no longer stand seeing his patients stagnate without getting better. He abandons traditional methods of reflection and introspection and goes all in. Interned in a psychiatric hospital in a drab, cold, undecorated room, he shares with a fellow doctor and nurse his ambitions to change the world, revolutionize patient care, become rich and famous, and finally marry Wendy. But is Robert really interned by choice for his experiment? What happened to his brother who recently disappeared at sea, leaving behind a grieving brother and a widow?

Why we loved it? Encore une journée divine marks François Cluzet’s return to the stage after 25 years away. It's a captivating solo performance with a completely disorienting plot: what to believe when the narrator proves unreliable? François Cluzet's role commands our full attention, as the doctor and nurse never actually appear on stage: he shares his thoughts directly with the audience. Initially standing, agitated, and booming, Robert's character gradually collapses, ending the play prostrate and groaning, pulling the audience entirely into his descent into madness. 1 hour and 30 minutes that fly by, and we already want to see it again!

Encore une journée divine at Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, 4 rue Monsigny, Paris 2nd. Until April 18, 2025

For whom? Fans of the humor, glitter, and politics of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The pitch. Venice, 16th century. Bianca is set to marry Giovanni, a man she knows nothing about. Devastated, she consults her godmother, a single woman and somewhat eccentric inventor. Her godmother reveals a secret: she possesses a skin of man, which transforms anyone who wears it into a boy. Bianca dons it, becomes Lorenzo, and ventures into the world of men to meet and better know her fiancé. But it's a revelation: men live far better lives than women. Why can they swim in the river, drink in taverns, and be forgiven for adultery, while women spend their days silently perched on a stool waiting for a husband or a baby? Bianca's adventure takes an unexpected turn: her future husband is gay and particularly appreciates Lorenzo but not really Bianca.

Why we loved it? We already adored Laure Calamy in Call My Agent!, A Devoted Friend, and My Donkey, My Lover & I. Portraying both a fiercely feminist Bianca and a Lorenzo unfamiliar with testosterone-fueled displays, she makes us laugh out loud. The highlight of the show: Giovanni’s friends arriving on stage for the Venice Carnival... in drag. Peau d'Homme is a feminist spectacle: after all, the best way to denounce male privilege is by infiltrating their world. Bonus: this play leans toward a musical, with songs composed by none other than Ben Mazué! It's commedia dell'arte, 2025 style!

Peau d’Homme at Théâtre Montparnasse, 31 rue de la Gaîté, Paris 14th. Until May 31, 2025.

For whom? Fans of Harry Potter and the best-selling author David Foenkinos.

The pitch. 1999, auditions for the role of Harry Potter in the movies are open. Martin Hill, the child of divorced parents living between London and Paris, becomes the casting favorite. Motivated by his beloved father, he reaches the final two, but you all know Daniel Radcliffe… because Martin Hill was not chosen. Shortly after this failure, his life becomes a nightmare. His father dies within a few months from illness, his distant mother takes him back and partners with a man who secretly mistreats him. Martin grows up with each new installment of the saga reminding him of the life he could have had. Depressed and isolated, he lands a job as a security guard at the Louvre and meets Sophie. How will Martin overcome the malaise caused by the casting failure ten years earlier?

Why we loved it? Who among us has never planned a Harry Potter marathon? Numéro Deux is a true return to childhood, featuring a scrawny boy with round glasses, the familiar melody of the theme music, Gryffindor scarves, and magical smoke and light effects. But far from being a retelling of the wizard's tale, this play, based on David Foenkinos' book, narrates the fictional story of the last contender for the role of Harry in the movies. This look behind the scenes of the world-famous saga already delights Potterheads of all ages!

Numéro Deux at Théâtre Tristan Bernard, 64 rue du Rocher, Paris 8th.

Also discover the one-(wo)man-shows that will make you howl with laughter and the free exhibitions at Parisian galleries.