The Club Théâtre of Télécom Bretagne gave a presentation of « Musée haut, musée bas » by Jean-Michel Ribes, on 27th May, in the Foyer des élèves (Brest campus). Review by one spectator of this exceptional evening.

I arrived in the Foyer on May 27th feeling rather curious, and a little late as ever. Le Coup de Venst, the twice monthly students’ magazine, advertised a play : « Musée haut, musée bas » by Jean-Michel Ribes, interpreted by the Club Théâtre. Drawn by a few extracts remembered from a dinner party, I had to get to know these famous « paintings in marvellous colours ». Hardly inside, I found myself plunged into the heart of a museum. A museum of twirling portraits, almost human Greek statues, around which we had to squeeze as the room was filled. But shush the first visitors are arriving…

« Three tickets please… ». After paying, we wandered together around each room of the museum, strolling from exhibit to exhibit in the company of wonderful guides. The nostalgia of a Botticelli grips us. We look in vain for a Kandinsky, admire the Venus de Milo, learn something new about perspective. Romantic, impressionist or surrealist, each piece is simply suggested but almost discernable…
At 22h30 the museum closes its doors, in front of our eyes it disappears for ever. I went outside deeply moved by this fleeting visit, moved by all the smiles and wondrous looks that I had witnessed. As well as giving youth a taste for theatre, the Club Théâtre also gave it « a taste for painting ». I will never again look at a painting in the same way, and perhaps I will finally be able to say « I see… » !

Quotations taken from « Musée haut, musée bas » by Jean-Michel Ribes.

Contact : Club Théâtre, Télécom Bretagne. Courriel : theatre@resel.fr.