The Apollo de Bellac

Synopsis

The reception room of the International Bureau of Inventions in Paris, during autumn.

Agnes, a timid young woman, arrives at the bureau seeking a job. She encounters a mysterious man who imparts a powerful secret: telling men they are handsome will make them pliable to her wishes. Armed with this knowledge, Agnes deftly navigates the bureaucracy, charming and manipulating the men she meets. Her journey leads her to meet the handsome Chairman of the Board, as the enigmatic man who shared the secret quietly disappears, leaving everyone in awe of Agnes’s newfound power.

Giraudoux’s play is a witty, satirical exploration of gender dynamics, power, and perception. Through sharp dialogue and clever scenarios, the play examines how easily people can be influenced by flattery and the façade of beauty.