An actor and an actress welcome the audience and declare their desire to please the public. ‘We are here to please,’ they repeat throughout the show. To do this, they recount a day in the life of Louis XIV, the Sun King. They explain how the monarch created the most sophisticated etiquette system in history, how etiquette is based on consideration for others, and how the King used this system as an instrument of power. Since it’s a pleasure, they do it spectacularly, with music, choreography and appropriate costumes. At the same time, they try to clarify who the audience in front of them is, who they have to please. They begin by considering the audience to be the members of the Versailles court; then a cultural elite; and finally the ‘masses’. The backdrop is a mirror in which the audience sees itself reflected in the role of these different types of audience.

direction Jorge Andrade ‧ in collaboration with Victor Hugo Pontes ‧ dramaturgical support David Cabecinha and Fernando Villas-Boas ‧ with Anabela Almeida and Jorge Andrade ‧ set design José Capela, with photography by José Carlos Duarte ‧ costumes José Capela, with execution by Guilhermina Rocha Gomes ‧ light João d’Almeida, with operation by Daniel Varela and assembly by Renato Marinho ‧ soundtrack Rui Lima and Sérgio Martins ‧ promotional image Isaque Pinheiro: Colarinho Branco (2008) ‧ promotional video Jorge Jácome and Marta Simões ‧ stage photography José Carlos Duarte ‧ production Manuel Poças and Joana Costa Santos ‧ management and programming consultancy Vânia Rodrigues ‧ coproduction Festival Alkantara and Teatro Nacional D. Maria II ‧ support Ballet Contemporâneo do Norte, Culturgest and Teatro Nacional São João ‧

datasdates

June 3 to 8, 2014 ‧ Teatro Nacional D. Maria II . Alkantara Festival (Lisbon)

June 11 to 15, 2014 ‧ mala voadora (Porto)

April 8 to 10, 2015 ‧ Teatro Hermilo Borba Filho (Recife, Brazil)