Lise is a 25-year-old medical secretary leading a quiet existence. Everything changes for her after a trip to the cinema: seeing Rocky III is truly an epiphany. Following the example of the former boxing champion who gets back in the ring for one last bout, Lise throws herself body and soul back into her medical studies. With Stallone, actress Clotilde Hesme and film director Fabien Gorgeart take on Emmanuèle Bernheim’s short story – published in Le Monde in 2001 – and introduce the bodybuilder to the stage, thus moving the story from cinema to theater.
Combining the poetics of combat, an ode to perseverance, and nostalgia for the pop counterculture of the 1980s, Stallone humorously raises the question of the influence an artwork can have in the construction of our destiny. In collaboration with sound designer and musician Pascal Sangla, Clotilde Hesme tells Lise’s story, showing how her existence brightens with the irrepressible life and energy bursting from the film’s hit song, “Eye of the Tiger.”
Show performed in French with English supertitles. Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Tickets and Details
Performances are free and open to the public. Advance tickets required. Reserve tickets online
Directions
Get directions to the Wallace Theater and find other venue information for the arts complex.
COVID-19 Guidance + Updates
Per Princeton University policy, all guests must either be fully vaccinated, or have recently tested negative (via PCR within 72 hours or via rapid antigen test within 8 hours of the scheduled visit) and be prepared to show proof if asked, or wear a face covering when indoors and around others.
Accessibility
The Wallace Theater is wheelchair accessible. Show performed in French with English subtitles. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.
