© Alain Hoareau
Emmanuelle de Boysson, a bestselling author and recipient of the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2022, unveils a show at Théâtre Essaïon based on her autobiographical novel Un coup au cœur, published in 2024. Today, it comes to life on stage, embodied by Carmen Vadillo. The plot: Emmanuelle suffers a heart attack and is clinically dead for 30 minutes. Medically revived, she draws a profound lesson of gratitude for life. An inspiring show not to be missed!
Un coup au cœur
Emmanuelle de Boysson, a survivor of a sudden heart attack, recounts her story in meticulous detail… including the less glamorous parts. In February 2022, after returning from a meeting with her publisher, Emmanuelle collapses. She spends nearly a month in the hospital, including a week in a coma. What follows is a deeply frustrating recovery for this active woman passionate about her work: walking aids, water aerobics, positive thinking...
But A Cœur Perdu is not just another story about health struggles, because Emmanuelle de Boysson actually died—and stayed dead for 30 minutes. While her partner thought he had lost her forever, she was exploring the afterlife. She describes the beyond as a neighboring room—far from a grandiose journey—depicting vast illuminated spaces with great archways and columns, surrounded by white. Her feeling in that moment? Pure bliss. And anyone afraid of death breathes a sigh of relief!
An Inspiration
The role is brought to life by Carmen Vadillo, a Spanish actress who infuses the text with extraordinary poetry and strength. Her powerful yet melodic voice leads the audience through alternating waves of anxiety—when faced with this grave medical event—and the serene joy of the afterlife. Dressed in a simple white muslin dress and occasionally performing energetic dances, she captivates on a small stage adorned with just a single chair and a few rugs. The story reaches us almost exclusively through the compelling narrative power of the actress.
A poetic and moving show that reminds us of the fragility of life—and the beauty of death. Emmanuelle de Boysson delivers a profoundly powerful message: enjoy life, because it is not owed to us.
A Cœur Perdu. Until January 14, 2025, Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:00 PM.
