Paris (AFP)

A long round of applause in place of the traditional three shots: 400 spectators, mainly caregivers, were invited Monday evening to the first performance organized for three months in the Antoine Theater, famous hall of the Grands Boulevards in Paris.

"It is 7:00 pm. It is a little early to applaud you. Normally, it is 8:00 pm", launches the actor Jacques Weber, with the poster of this reopening evening for a reading of texts of Victor Hugo and Gustave Flaubert. "I wanted to tell you from the bottom of my heart my emotion. Thank you all, caregivers and firefighters, for before, during and after the Covid," added the actor.

A few moments earlier, the Minister of Culture Franck Riester took his place in the room, confiding to AFP "his happiness to see cinemas and theaters today resume in compliance with health rules".

"It is this balance that we have to find between the pleasure of going to the theater, to shows and at the same time (the need) to be careful to prevent the virus from spreading again. This is what we try to do, "added the minister.

Jean-Marc Dumontet, owner of several theaters, reopened Monday evening five of his Parisian halls for an evening, with plays and readings in front of caregivers and invited firefighters, and also some subscribers. A special evening, before returning to the normal rhythm at the start of the school year.

Le Point Virgule offered at the same time a set of comedians, while at the Free Theater, Richard Berry gave a representation of "Plaidoiries", anthology of the most famous defenses of tenors of the bar. According to health regulations, one out of two places was left vacant, while people who came together could sit side by side.

- "Start living again!" -

"On March 14, the decision to close the theaters fell like a knife, with infinite sadness. We knew that one day, this virus would be behind us and we were looking forward to celebrating the theater. This day has come!" , rejoices Jean-Marc Dumontet, addressing the spectators from the stage of the Antoine Theater, just before the curtain rises.

"This June 22, we can start living again! If we decided this unprecedented effort in the history of Humanity to confine oneself to protect life, it was good to enjoy life, enjoy it and rediscover meetings and the theater, "he continues.

"We missed this exchange with you, missed the actors and no doubt missed you. We are happy to share this reunion. We are extremely moved ... It's a pleasure to find you! Long live the theater!", concludes the producer.

Invited with his wife to the orchestra, Thierry, hospital nurse in the Paris region, told AFP "to feel a lot of emotions".

"I just sent an SMS to friends: + my first outing to the post-Covid-19 theater. Life begins again and culture with it! +. It is a great happiness after all that we have experienced but it takes still be careful ... In this theater, the sanitary measures are respected. Many spectators wear the mask. We are reassured, "he describes.

Since the announcement of the reopening of theaters in the provinces on June 2 and in Ile-de-France on June 15, few establishments have been able to restart in practice.

June traditionally marks the end of the theatrical season and the start of summer festivals, but the majority have been canceled.

The Comédie-Française remains closed and has started work. From September, the Antoine Theater will resume the play "By the end of the nose" with François Berléand and Francois-Xavier Demaison which the Macron had attended ten days before confinement.

© 2020 AFP