Le Cid Pète Un Câble

“Two years ago, I took my children to see a classic play… And they understood nothing! Why? Because they didn’t get the references! I had wanted to introduce them to the classics, but I had just put them off. That was when I had the idea of rewriting Le CID, a story about teenagers torn between ‘I love you’ and ‘my father is going to kill me’ — in short, a story about today’s teenagers, written in the 17th century, which I have rewritten with (de)constructive respect, entirely in alexandrine verse! According to my sons, it is absolutely W.I.L.D.!” — Caroline Vigneaux, writer and director.

ACCORDING TO CORNEILLE, 1637

Rodrigue loves Chimène and Chimène loves Rodrigue. Their wedding is about to take place when a violent argument breaks out between their fathers. Rodrigue is then forced to face Chimène’s father in a duel. For the young man, the dilemma is cruel: should he avenge his father’s honour or save the love of the woman he loves?

ACCORDING TO CORNEILLE & CAROLINE VIGNEAUX, 2026

Rodrigue and Chimène are madly in love and ready to get married… except their dads get into a massive row. Chimène’s father, the Count, slaps Rodrigue’s father, Don Diègue, after an ego clash. Too old to fight, Don Diègue hands his sword to his son Rodrigue so he can kill the Count! His girlfriend’s dad! Yes, back then they did not mess around when it came to respect.

And that is where the Cornelian dilemma — named after the author, Pierre Corneille — comes in: to avenge his father, Rodrigue must choose between losing his family’s honour and losing his girlfriend’s love. So what will he choose? Love or honour?

Honestly, it’s a tough one…