It’s a great classic, “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, which the Balcon theater will host tonight. But in a “contemporary theatrical and musical road movie” version, by the Sea Art company, proud to be the first to bring this major text to the stage; the show had great success at the Off 2021 festival at La Luna, and everywhere it went. A world first, as Steinbeck’s heirs – Pulitzer Prize then Nobel Prize for Literature – had so far only authorized the 1940 film with Henry Fonda.

A masterful actor-adaptor-director (Xavier Simonin, who knows how to inhabit all sorts of repertoires), and four musician-singers (guitar, double bass, violin, multi-instruments), in French and in English – original songs -, in a sober but effective staging, deliver a very strong show, not to be missed. Rough and joyful like the life of emigrants from the Dust Bowl to California, the terrible exodus due to the Great American Depression of 1929, along the mythical Route 66. “Anger ferments”… And any resemblance to another era and another country would not be fortuitous.

Thursday 19 May, 8 p.m., Balcon theatre, Avignon. 1h40 without intermission. More info at [email protected], and at 04.90.85.00.80.