Some stage directors believe they are keeping Molière’s plays up to date by dressing the actors in period costumes or placing them in unlikely locations. In this way, they demonstrate their incomprehension of a writer who wanted to break with the ideas of his time. Molière was modern even before anyone wanted to unnecessarily modernize him. This is just one more proof of the profound ignorance of our time regarding our history. To the question: «What’s new? Molière,» the answer is: «What’s new? De Gaulle!»
I can already hear the snickers and ridicule, the trials of ridicule. I accept them. Of course, this is not about bringing the General back to life or having him speak by turning the tables. Let’s keep the qualities and defects, the successes and mistakes attributed to the person and the time in which they lived. Let’s focus on the essential: the ideas of greatness and national independence, the great plans, the long-term projects, France’s place in the world, a humanist vision of the future… This was the time when the president presided, when the Prime Minister had a political stature where the names of the ministers were known, when people resigned when they were defeated in the elections, when the idea of responsibility had meaning, when the prefects did not tremble like leaves from Tuesday evening until the next noon, when ambassadors were received by the head of state…
Not everything was perfect, far from it. Not everything succeeded. But at least we knew that there was a boss in charge, that he was not leading us into a blind alley, that he trusted a people to whom he spoke in a high-quality French language, that he delivered understandable speeches, in short, a president who spoke like a president and not like a bureau chief.
That was a long time ago. It’s a shame that we no longer have that powder of national genius that is the soul of a people. By the way, did anyone ever wonder why the 1960s and 1970s are in fashion?.
What's new? De Gaulle?
By CYRANO
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