From April 1 to 12, 2025, the Théâtre des Abbesses presents La Grande Magie, a play byEduardo De Filippo, a leading figure in 20th-century Italian theater. Directed by Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota, this work plunges us into a universe where reality wavers, where the stage becomes a place of illusion, and where human feelings merge with unsettling role-playing.
Magic, hypnosis and mentalism shows to see in Paris
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of magic, hypnosis and mentalism on Parisian stages. [Read more]
In La Grande Magie , the story begins at a magic show, in an atmosphere of almost light comedy: an illusionist named Otto makes a man, Calogero's husband, disappear at the request of his mistress. What seems like a simple trick is actually part of a larger plan: the man never returns, and the betrayed wife, four years later, still believes in a temporary disappearance. The illusionist has led her to believe that her husband is locked in a box, which she can only open when she's sure he's there.
Inspired by a tradition at the crossroads of philosophical fable and theater of the absurd, the play would play with the boundaries between truth and falsehood, between spectacle and life. As with Pirandello, with whom De Filippo is often associated, identities are blurred, certainties waver, and the question of truth becomes central: what do we choose to believe in? How far can we live with illusion, if it is more consoling than reality?
Plays and shows to see this week in Paris: comedies, dance, humor, magic, cabaret... Our selection of must-see events. [Read more]
The staging of La Grande Magie would propose a reading focused on the power of the imagination, in a mental space where the characters would be less prisoners of a realistic drama than of a shifting inner construction. The set design and direction of the actors could reinforce this ambiguity between the tangible world and mental fiction.
La Grande Magie would particularly appeal to fans of European playwright's theater, those interested in the great texts of the modern repertoire, and spectators curious about metaphysical reflections through offbeat or symbolic forms. This show could also appeal to those who appreciate stagings where illusion and narration merge, without the need for realistic linearity.
Fancy going to see a play or show in Paris or the Ile-de-France region, but don't know which one to choose? Our reviews of current plays and shows are here to advise you! [Read more]
On the other hand, it would be less suited to an audience looking for clear narratives or classic comedies, as the play relies on narrative distortion mechanisms and a mental atmosphere, rather than a conventional plot.
This article is based on information available before the show. It is not based on direct experience of the show.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
Dates and Opening Time
From April 1, 2025 to April 12, 2025
Location
Théâtre de la Ville - Les Abbesses
31 Rue des Abbesses
75018 Paris 18
Prices
€8 - €33
Booking
www.theatredelaville-paris.com
Magic, hypnosis and mentalism shows to see in Paris
What to see this week in Paris? Plays and shows not to be missed
Our reviews of shows and plays to discover in Paris
