Politics, Totalitarianism, and Corruption in the Theatre Plays of Jean-Pierre Martinez

Political theatre can hardly compete with the tragicomedy of power as it unfolds daily, like a soap opera, on the television news.

In this field, reality often surpasses fiction. But one can always try… Moreover, it is undeniable that the flaws of the so-called elites who govern us and the abuses of power, especially when it is absolute, are inherently universal, as they are intrinsically linked to the weaknesses and flaws of human nature in general.

While Jean-Pierre Martinez’s political comedies are often inspired by the specifically French context, they frequently resonate with the particular situations of many other regions around the world.

This is why they enjoy great success worldwide, as in every country, citizens recognize in these palace intrigues, autocratic excesses, or widespread corruption situations that reflect the characteristics of their own social and political environment.

A CEO invites a minister to dinner with the aim of getting him to sign a large contract, and hires an escort to help seal the deal. But the escort in question is filling in for a friend who led her to believe it was just a well-paid catering job. She expects to be handing out appetizers, only to find out she’s on the menu. Naturally, nothing will go according to plan …

Politics often resembles a ruthless game of chess, devoid of moral considerations. Whether playing as the white or black pieces, the ultimate goal for each side is to conquer and eliminate the other, leaving only a solitary king on the board. This absurd game concludes with the opponent's defeat, bringing the entire game to an end, only to set the stage for a potential rematch. Such is the theme explored in this dark comedy, where the king, queen, and their conniving contenders spare no pawns in their quest for victory. It serves as a tragicomic portrayal of the excesses that those infected with the political virus can indulge in...

As the presidential election approaches, a party plummeting in the polls selects a designated fool to represent them, taking on the responsibility for the impending disaster. Simultaneously, they secretly promote an outsider candidate for their supporters to rally behind after their victory. However, the fool turns out to be unpredictable… and so do the voters.

Four strangers find themselves forcefully quarantined in what turns out to be an abandoned theater. Seated behind an imaginary two-way mirror, they are observed by another group of people (the audience). The allegedly contaminated strangers consider the situation. What virus are they contaminated with? What will happen to them? How and when will all this end? Little by little, we learn that this huis-clos takes place in a near future where Big Brother reigns supreme, and that the reason for this quarantine may not be entirely medically motivated.

Six mysterious characters are stranded on an island due to a ferry strike. They all have a good reason to want to return to the mainland as soon as possible. They board a fishing boat operated by an improvised smuggler. But the price to pay for this crossing will be higher than expected… A humorous fable about the flaws of our society.

On a Planet Earth ravaged by climate change and rendered uninhabitable, mankind is living out its final hours. Two men and two women are set to take off in a spaceship for an unknown planet that might be their only chance for survival. The mission of these four « chosen ones » is to give humanity one last chance to save itself and carry on its evolution. But does mankind deserve a second chance if self-destructive madness caused its extermination? The passengers cannot agree…

In the only bar of a village emptied by rural exodus, the two owners and their few remaining customers create fake news stories to escape their bleak fate—some of which could become self-fulfilling prophecies.

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