Franck, Alice, Pierre-François, Claire, Luc, Nelly… each of these singular characters will run into the others on the night of a performance of Corneille’s The Liar. The six of them know each other, remember (sometimes vaguely) each other, have lost touch with or live for each other, or are alone… and each of their lives will change for having gone – occasionally or frequently, to the café adjacent to the theatre. Their monologues and dialogues, interior or not, will weave a story not unlike the one on stage, in which each character – wittingly or not – is playing their proper role. Christophe Carlier’s ordinary heroes are portrayed in a huis-clos in which everything becomes calmly possible, where everything can be achieved or failed. The plot is well-served by a smooth, gentle writing style that urges readers to question life, love and ageing.

Several people run into each other at a café next to a theatre where they will all be going to see Corneille’s The Liar later. They recognize each other, know each other, or think they know each other… but in the end of the day, each of them is alone. The play isn’t a huge success, but it does make them think, and it enable them to get back in touch. Christophe Carlier has written a thoughtful text that – without actually being a play, uses some theatrical concepts, like the huis-clos.