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An enchanting Petit Prince

Nice Matin - October 2002
Fabienne Emir

The stage adaptation of the work of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry which at the moment, is a triumph at the Casino de Paris, is a joy.

Ten minutes of applause. And yet, the audience composed entirely of critics and professionals, has reserved an enthusiastic reception for the first night of the “Petit Prince” last week at the Casino de Paris. It’s a big success for the very original show.

It’s not a musical show like one can see at the moment, with a series of balletic dances to music with pumped-up decibels. Le Petit Prince is quite safe here. From beginning to end it is an enchantment.

For a start, there are the bewitching melodies of Richard Cocciante who needs no introduction and who wrote the upmarket score. There is the sensitiveness of the texts of Elisabeth Anaïs. A masterstroke for this canny lady who has succeeded in this audacious gamble of faithfully adapting the main work of Saint-Exupéry and which is with the agreement of his heirs whom one knows are most punctilious on this matter.

Next there is the superb scenery of Hans Schavernock, the mirror play, the lighting effects and back-projection. One is gently “transported” into the midst of the desert into a world of suspended planets. 3D is not far off.

There are also the very exquisite costumes of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, the bare but effective production of Jean-Louis Martinoty. And then, above all, there is Jeff: a small blond boy, age 13, radiant and talented. His voice is bright and clear, the tone is just right, not easy, and yet changing between the parts played and sections of the singing. Daniel Lavoie, in the part of the airman, turns out to be as good an actor as he is a singer: he moves us to tears. Finally, there are the other characters in the book like the Rose, the autocratic King, the lamp-lighter and the gentle fox. These are all performed by excellent singer/actors. Equally totally outstanding is a contortionist ... amazing in the part of the snake.

It’s the show to see in Paris at the moment. The success makes a regional tour likely, but for now, only those in Paris have the chance to remember “all grown-ups were once children”.