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Le Cabaret des hommes perdus
Christian Siméon
Le Cabaret des hommes perdus
Actes du théâtre n° 22.[ imprimer ]
In a forgotten little cabaret in New York where anything can happen, there’s a barman, a transvestite, and Destiny. The door of the theatre is locked tight, the audience is trapped, and the show is about to begin. Its prey, Dicky, a young drifter, has just arrived fleeing from a gang of fag-bashers. As the frantic musical show unfolds, Destiny gives Dicky a taste of the future career it has cooked up for him – as a big star in gay porn flicks.

[video excerpt]

“Although the subject matter may seem very eccentric, and the world described relevant only to a minority, that is not the case because the central issue in the play is so universal. Dickie ‘facing his own fate’ is just like any human being faced with a choice at some point in their life. What path should you take when you’ve come to the crossroads? […] Beneath its air of iconoclastic entertainment, this cabaret invites the audience to engage in a far more tragic and deeper level of reflection than it might imagine.”
Stéphane Ly-Cuong, Regard en coulisse, September 2006


Opened at the Théâtre du Rond-Point, Paris, 7 September – 21 October 2006. Revived at La Pépinière Opéra, 21 November.
Director: Jean-Luc Revol. Music: Patrick Laviosa. Cast: Alexandre Bonstein, Denis d’Arcangelo, Jérôme Pradon, Sinan Bertrand.

Characters : 4 men - Characters: 4 singer-actors.
Editions de l'Avant-Scène, coll. Les Quatre-Vents - www.christiansimeon.com

On stage. Where Fate introduces the “Lost Men Cabaret”. A man: Destiny. Nothing. Just a door. Destiny sings, to the audience.
Preliminary song – by way of a prologue.
1 – What are you doing here? / Don’t come in, don’t come near.
This show is just a lure. / Whatever you do, don’t sit down, for sure.
You’ve fallen into a trap, in a sense.
And there’s nothing left to be your defense.
You must call a cab, it’s clear. / And get the hell out of here.
2 – You don’t get what I’m trying to say. / That in this place you cannot stay.
What will become of you if you stay? / There’s still time to get away.
It’s about to commence.
Don’t take off your coat – there’s no sense.
Forget about those tickets, if you don’t mind. / Just try to save your peace of mind.
3 – Now there’s no reason for you to delay. / Nothing’s ready, everything’s ugly, so why stay?
For pity’s sake, go home. / Spend your evening somewhere else – go out and roam.
Don’t turn off your mobile phone,
For a show that will just make you moan.
You may need to make a quick call, / For, here, anything could happen at all.
4 – Forget about your seat, / Even if it can’t be beat.
Many who have stuck around, I might add, / Have lost all the integrity they ever had.
Some really weird stuff goes down here,
In this unusual lair, my dear.
And if you decide to stay because you came, / Then you’ve only yourself to blame.
5 – So take this as a warning. / And if you’re let down, don’t give us any whining.
There’s not an ounce of hope. / On this stage where we can no longer cope.
Because we’re going to reveal,
Everything you’ve been trying to conceal.
To get out there is no way / At the Lost Men Cabaret.
6 – Don’t come near…
Don’t stay here…
Go away…
While you still may…
You still may…
You still may…
But soon there may…
Be no more way…
Soon there may…
Be no way…
Be no way…
Because I say: It’s too late!!!…
The music stops all of a sudden!!!
The doors to the theatre slam shut.
Blackout!