Le Roman Comique du Chat Noir

Set against the twilight of Montmartre’s legendary Cabaret du Chat Noir, this lively chronicle follows the troupe’s farewell tour across the French provinces and beyond. Through the eyes of a witty chronicler, listeners hear the clatter of train wheels, the raucous applause of provincial cafés, and the off‑kilter humor of shadow‑play performances that challenge conventional theater. The narrator’s conversational tone captures the eccentric personalities—chief among them the irascible yet weary Rodolphe Salis and the ever‑resourceful Edouard Conte—while peppering the journey with witty observations on song, satire, and the fleeting nature of fame.

As the troupe weaves through Brittany, the Southwest, and even hints at distant stages in Austria and Russia, the narrative paints a vivid portrait of a world on the brink of change. The pockets of absurdity and spontaneous banter give the listener a sense of being on the road with the performers, while subtle hints of looming loss add an unexpected depth to the otherwise light‑hearted adventure.