Sleepin’ Bee – Theatre Michel, Paris

The cast of Sleepin’ Bee at the Theatre Michel, Paris

Sleepin’ Bee was performed at the Theatre Michel, Paris.

What a joy after coming out of the lengthy showcase of Dance of the Vampires – scheduled for the Mogador Theatre next fall – to be able to listen to real music just next door at a performance of Sleepin’ Bee at Theatre Michel.

Sleeping Bee, an intimate revue and musical tribute to Barbra Streisand’s Broadway years (conceived and directed by Franck Harscouet), is less than a book musical but much more than a concert. There is no dialogue but lots of atmosphere. The performances from the company of circus artists and travelling players hint at The Red Shoes, La Strada and The Freaks, but most of all at the longest running Off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks, incidentally based on a French novel by Edmond Rostand.

The musical arrangements by Christophe Houssin are very contemporary and never try to duplicate Streisand’s originals. As for the cast of seven, headed by Astou Malva Gueye from Swinging Life and Philippe D’Avilla from Romeo et Juliette, they are impeccably drilled by the capable Miranda Crispin.

The brilliant costumes by Stephane DeLaurent, the handsome set by Sebastien Barbaud, and the atmospheric lights by Eric Charansol, all add up to an enchanting journey through the early Streisand recordings in a lush imaginary world.

Let’s hope this show will live beyond the two special performances at Theatre Michel as we never can stay too long at the fair!

Patrick Honoré