CRITIQUE – After Beauty and the Beastthe Hôtel Le Brun, in the 5e district of Paris, welcomes a new immersive show dedicated to the author of Around the world in 80 days.
“Experience an extraordinary spectacle”, promises the poster of Extraordinary journey of Jules Verne at the Grand Hôtel des Rêves, rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, in Paris. Groups of around twenty people form in front of the Hôtel Le Brun, the former home of the nephew of Charles Le Brunthe official painter of Louis XIV. A carriage sits in the paved courtyard. However, we are immediately taken to the time of the author of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea . Bellboys straight out of the Spirou’s journalbut here in dark blue, invite us to put on a cape.
“You are not going to witness a show but an extraordinary journey”warns a mischievous young girl perched on a suitcase. Before inviting us to meet the host of the place: Jules Verne himself. Sitting behind his desk, the writer talks about how he started writing novels and shows the red and gold cover designed by his publisher, Pierre-Jules Hetzel. After a leap back in time – the immersion lasts fifty-five minutes – we meet Jules Verne young, enthusiastic and full of ideas. He will become famous.
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“An interactive side”
We raise our finger to bet on the probability that Phileas Fogg has of traveling around the world in 80 days. We visit Nadar’s workshop, we meet the Dr Fergusson, George Sand or Thomas Edison. Then we come across Captain Nemo in his submarine. “It’s the NautilusI recognize it »rejoices an 8-year-old boy. He is even crazier when he enters an observatory where he will help launch Apollo 11.
I was born in Nantes like Jules Verne and I attended the same school. It’s incredible, he had planned space flight eighty years before
Grégory Boussaud, actor
At the exit, Jules Verne signs autographs on his business card which indicates his motto: “Everything that is impossible remains to be accomplished. » “I love the interactive side of this show”specifies his interpreter Grégory Boussaud. “I was born in Nantes like Jules Verne and I attended the same school. It’s incredible, he had planned space flight eighty years before. » He gives voice to around twenty actors, all credible. The refined costumes and sumptuous sets covering more than 1000 m² are in tune with the staging.
After the True Story of Santa Clauset The Beauty and the Beastthe Extraordinary journey of Jules Verne entertains the public, from 5 years old, but not only. The idea for these immersive shows comes from Charles Mollet who founded his specialized company (Polaris) in 2015. The thirty-year-old writes, imagines the scenography, directs the distribution and produces. He wanted us to come away from these space-time trips amazed. It’s successful.
The Extraordinary Journey of Jules Verne at the Grand Hôtel des Rêves (Paris 5e), until November 2.
