Anyone who’s visited Paris can’t stay indifferent to Parisians themselves. I’ve personally had the pleasure, most of the time, of enjoying their warm and friendly side, but over the years I’ve also gotten a good look at their condescending, impatient, and not-so-pleasant side. It turns out I’m not the only one who’s run into this side of Parisians, it’s become such a cliché that the newspaper Le Parisien even used it in one of its witty ad campaigns. So how do you deal with the Parisian character? I, for one, wrote a series of tips on how not to annoy the French. Olivier Giraud turned it into a stand-up comedy show.
Olivier explains how to become French in one hour
So who is Olivier, and how did the show come about? Olivier, born in 1977, actually wanted to become a chef, and studied at one of the best culinary schools in France before starting to work in Paris. In 2001 he moved to the United States to live and work, and that’s where he started wondering about the differences in mentality between Americans and the French (especially Parisians, who are a special breed of French people). While working in the kitchens of some of the leading hotels in the US, Olivier realized that what he really wanted to do was be a comedian, and little by little he started building the show “How to Become a Parisian in One Hour,” in which he analyzes, with sharp and witty humor, the behavior patterns of Parisians in all kinds of situations (in a shop, at a restaurant, at a bar, and so on). The show first hit the stage in 2009, and even though everyone in the Paris show business world told him there was no chance a show in English could succeed, Olivier started filling theaters (he was so successful that the following year he got to perform at the Olympia, one of Paris’s legendary venues). Here’s a short clip from the show where he explains how to act like a Parisian in a clothing store:
In September 2015 I got to see his one-man show and understand why it’s so successful. Olivier is a comedian with a real gift, he reminds me of Rik Mayall (1958-2014) with his energy and facial expressions. His years living in Paris helped Olivier distill the essence of the Parisian, the phlegmatic attitude we’ve all run into, and he manages to bring it to the stage in full force. During the show he makes fun of Parisian fashion, the gloomy expressions on the metro, the bad service in restaurants, and the attitude of “I’m better than all these provincials.” Olivier doesn’t spare his whip only for Parisians, he also goes after enthusiastic Americans, who make for fertile comedic ground thanks to their naivety, ignorance, and complete lack of awareness of their Parisian surroundings (I promise you’ll be crying with laughter too when he impersonates an American saying “Shamps Elizays” instead of Champs-Élysées). Like any good performer, he knows how to talk to the audience and get them going, and in return the audience never stops laughing throughout the show. Even though the show is a huge hit with both tourists and the French, Olivier doesn’t act like a diva, and after the show you can find him in the theater hallway taking pictures with the audience.
In short, if you’re looking for attractions in Paris and want something a little different from the usual, I highly recommend checking out Olivier Giraud’s website and seeing when he’s performing next. There’s almost no better way to end a day packed with experiences in the City of Light, and who knows, maybe by the end of the show you’ll become a Parisian yourself.
Want to buy tickets for the show “How to Become French in One Hour”?
It’s simple: all you need to do is click this link, buy your tickets in advance, and skip the line.
Looking for more things to do in Paris?
- If you’re looking to visit the attractions of the City of Light, feel free to check out this article, book your tickets in advance, and save yourself from standing in line.
- Looking for a good restaurant in Paris? Don’t leave it to luck, check out this page and pick one of the restaurants that I or one of the Francophiles recommended.
- Want to explore Paris and reach the places most tourists never get to? Feel free to try one of the free walking routes I created especially for you.
