Philippe Magnan (Mitterrand) and Cyrille Eldin (Rocard), at the Théâtre de l'Atelier @ theater de l'Atelier

The curtain opens. In his living room, François Mitterrand holds a rare edition of Lamartine. As a backdrop, a library seems to touch the sky, like a Tower of Babel. The doorbell rings, but the President, or rather the future President of the Republic prefers to finish his page, before opening it to Michel Rocard. Thus begins the play directed by Eric Civanyan and written by Georges Naudy. Which imagined, by feeding on writings, interviews and declarations held by one and the other, what the tête-à-tête between the two men could have given, during 1980. A meeting which really had took place, rue de Bièvre, between the two candidates for the supreme magistracy in order to know who will represent the Socialist Party in 1981.

Between politics-fiction and history - the small one but also the big one - we witness from the front row to this verbal jousting which opposes two personalities, two temperaments, two visions of politics and even of life that are almost irreconcilable. The excellent Philippe Magnan, customary of this type of role since he has already played many ministers or presidents on the screen - including this one in The Farewell Affair - puts himself easily in the shoes of a devious Mitterrand, smug and sarcastic at will. Opposite, Cyrille Eldin incarnates a Michel Rocard first in his little shoes, then more and more pugnacious, invoking the great principles, Jaurès and Clemenceau. If the physical resemblance is less obvious here, due in particular to the difference in size, the actor makes use of his experience of the political world (he is also known for having interviewed politicians on Canal + without language or humorously. for years) and play with sobriety.

"I have no contempt for you, contempt must be earned"

Between the two men, bullets and projections fuse, but the duel seems to systematically turn to the advantage of the elder. As will be the case in the real world. When one points out that Rocard rhymes with hope, the other retorts that Mitterrand and president, that rhymes too. If the mayor of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine emphasizes that he, at least, has always been on the left, the first secretary of the PS, who criticizes him for his connections with the center, replies: "That's why you got bored faster." " And when Rocard, cornered in the ring, asks Mitterrand why he despises him so much, the repartee bursts out: “I have no contempt for you, contempt has to be earned. "

One excels in economics, reasons pragmatically and defends values. The other believes that the economy is made for the grocers, and rather grows with the forces of the spirit and the literature. The coup de grace comes when Rocard, summoned to recite his favorite poem, loses track after a few lines. And Mitterrand to declaim the following verses… Removed and perfectly documented, the piece written by Georges Naudy is fascinating and does not suffer from any downtime. A success.

Frank Crudo

Theater of the Workshop

1 place Charles-Dullin, 75018 Paris

Tuesday to Saturday at 21 p.m., Sunday at 17 p.m.

http://www.theatre-atelier.com/l-opposition-mitterand-vs-rocard-lo2842.html