The Funniest Show in Paris?
One of the most popular shows in Paris, and probably the funniest, is Olivier Giraud’s ‘How to Become a Parisian in One Hour’.
The show has been running for over ten years and is still packing them in—more than half a million people have already seen it!
The show is in English and runs a little over an hour.
“After my intensive training, you will be fully fluent in the behavior of Parisians in shops, restaurants, taxis, subways and nightclubs.”
Well, that may be an exaggeration, but you will definitely know what you’re getting yourself into!
Would I like the show?
Surprisingly, the show is popular with Parisians as well as tourists and there are always plenty of Parisians in the audience.
In one of his bits, Giraud explains that Parisians always wear black tops, always:
“And—if you’re a little crazy—you might also wear some gray.”
He then points to a member of the audience who is wearing a black top with some gray in it:
“Where are you from?” he asks the man.
“Um, Paris” comes the reply.
The audience roars.
To give you an idea of what the show is like, here are a few minutes of it:
The show is held in a cozy theater that holds about 600 people, so every seat is good. Tickets run from 20 to 38 Euro and it’s highly recommended that you book in advance.
If you are not going to be in Paris any time soon, you can always pick up Giraud’s book, in either English or French.
It covers much of the same material as the show but also adds some new—one of my favorites is a guide to Parisian facial expressions… you’ll have to buy the book to see it!
Why would I go?
Paris is full of magnificent museums, churches and monuments, but sometimes you need a break from all that culture.
So, think about checking out ‘How To Become A Parisian In One Hour’. It will give your feet a rest – and who doesn’t love a good laugh?
Practical information
When:
Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7pm
Where:
The show is held at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, 24 Boulevard Poissonnière
Buy:
Here is the website for buying tickets and for other information
Have you seen ‘How to Become a Parisian in One Hour’? Did you love it as much as I did? Share what you thought of it in the comments below.
Buy and read:
How to Become a Parisian in One Hour – English
Guide (très) pratique du parfait Parisien (French Edition) – Francais. Image and video credit:
1. How to Become a Parisian in One Hour via Amazon
2. Excerpt of live show via YouTube
About the Contributor
Keith Van Sickle
