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3. 'Entre 2': A Hilarious Huis Clos at Le Monnot Theater

The comedy Entre 2, presented at Le Monnot theater from January 22 to 26, 2025, humorously depicts an unexpected encounter in an elevator. A play filled with laughter and surprises, starring Pascale Michaud and Bruno Chapelle, directed by Jean-Philippe Azéma.

Written by Bruno Chapelle and brought to life by Jean-Philippe Azéma, Entre 2 delves into an unlikely situation: being stuck in an elevator… but with whom? The show features a set design by Laure Lepelley and includes vocal contributions from artists such as Nicolas Biaud-Mauduit and Lucie Biaud-Michaud.

The play cleverly explores universal themes like the passage of time and human interactions. Chapelle wanted to highlight how people perceive time differently. "Bruno wanted to write about the passage of time and how subjective this notion is for different individuals," explains actress Pascale Michaud.

The confined elevator setting is central to the staging and poses a real challenge for the actors. Performing in such a small space (1.4 x 1.4 meters) without losing the audience's engagement requires mastery. "Stepping onstage and not leaving for an hour and twenty minutes is a real challenge. Once you're in, it's like a one-shot performance; everything happens live," Pascale Michaud shares.

The play is firmly rooted in its script, written by Chapelle. Unlike other works that rely on improvisation, Entre 2 was meticulously developed from its original text. "We worked exclusively on Bruno's script. After a couple of read-throughs, Jean-Philippe Azéma, the director, and Bruno refined certain passages, cut lines, clarified intentions, and enriched the text to make it more effective. We then infused it with our emotions and interpretations, while Jean-Philippe guided us throughout. The text itself remains unchanged, but the continuous collaboration has elevated the production," Pascale Michaud adds.

The humor in Entre 2 stems largely from the stark contrast between the two lead characters, François and Jeanne. Their differences, profound in every way, fuel the tension and drive the story's comedic edge. "Theater thrives on confrontation. Here, the opposition isn't dramatic but creates a comedic tension that entertains while also intriguing the audience," the actress notes.

Pascale Michaud concludes, "The audience should prepare for anything because the surprises are endless… And, of course, they'll laugh a lot!"