Mr. Jourdain-the void in the velvet

Monsieur Jourdain - Emptiness in Velvet is a modern comedy inspired by Molière’s play. It is ironic and dazzling on the surface, just like its main character. Jourdain is a man in search of becoming more than he is. He strives for self-improvement, buys glamour, costumes, and recognition, yet he keeps facing the nagging sense of inner emptiness. He is ridiculous, touching, at times overconfident, at times lost - and this contradiction makes him both familiar and comical.

Jourdain is not just a naive bourgeois chasing a title. He is a dreamer longing for unattainable happiness. He senses his own inauthenticity, knows he has become a parody of himself, yet continues playing along in the theatre of life, building an illusion that’s easier to believe in than confronting reality. His teachers and family play along with his fantasies - and so does Jourdain, despite understanding the truth. After all, even a fragile illusion can give the feeling of life that mundane reality lacks.

Directed by renowned Kazan-based director Tufan Imamutdinov, the performance is vibrant, musical, full of light irony, visual flair, and relevant undertones. Beneath the comedic lightness lies a subtle tale about a man who chose illusion - because the truth was far too hollow.