DAS LÄCHELN DER FRAUEN

“The Smile of Women” brings Nicolas Barreau’s bestseller of the same name to the stage as a romantic comedy: The story centers on Aurélie Bredin, a Parisian restaurant owner who, following a breakup, stumbles upon a novel in which she believes she recognizes herself and her restaurant down to the last detail. Reading the book becomes a turning point for her; she wants to meet the mysterious author, Robert Miller, to thank him. But behind this name lies André Chabanais, a literary editor who wrote the novel himself and published it under a pseudonym. This situation gives rise to a clever game of mistaken identities exploring projection, desire, and the moral flexibility of a well-intentioned lie. Through letters, excuses, and staged encounters, the play explores how literature touches reality—and how difficult it can be to reveal oneself without a mask.