A Night of Laughter and Talent at the Francophone Gala
The Francophone Gala represented the second major event of this inaugural edition, taking place the day after the Arabophone Gala, hosted by Eko. Malik Bentalha, co-founder of the festival alongside Karim Debbouze, took on the role of host on Friday, June 5, while also showcasing his comedic talents as a performer throughout the evening.
Bentalha’s presence on stage extended far beyond that of a mere host. He paid tribute to the legendary Michael Jackson by performing several of his iconic songs and mimicking his famous dance routines. In a comedic twist, he impersonated Imam Chalghoumi, a well-known public figure recognized for his media appearances concerning Islam in France, adopting his mannerisms and speech patterns behind the podium. The evening also featured an improvised musical number, where Bentalha serenaded comedian Meryem Benoua with a parody of a romantic scene from the film Aladdin.
In a statement to _Le360_, Malik Bentalha emphasized the intent behind the Gala, stating a clear desire to bring visibility to the emerging comedy scene: “We wanted to highlight young talents because it is important for us to bring new comedians to the forefront.” The official Gala program featured nine comedians from the Francophone stand-up scene, including Meryem Benoua, Sarah Lélé, Tom Baldetti, Jason Brokerss, Léopold Lemarchand, Hugo Le Van, Youness Hanifi, Paul de Saint Sernin, and Nordine Ganso. Ganso, in a unique situation, performed his solo show 'Violet' earlier that evening before joining the Gala lineup later on.
Highlighting Diversity in Francophone Humor
The Gala showcased a diverse array of artists, each bringing different themes and styles to the stage, reflecting the intention of the event as a platform for comedic diversity. Meryem Benoua tackled topics such as street flirting in Morocco, the adjustments of couple life when moving in together, and the quirks of long-term relationships. Sarah Lélé focused her performance on her father and themes of feminism.
Tom Baldetti reminisced about his beginnings in stand-up and his move from the countryside to Paris, discussing cannabis consumption, the candidness of children in front of adults, and the narrative device of the tooth fairy. Jason Brokerss centered his routine around parenting, juxtaposing the methods of raising children in the past versus present. Paul de Saint Sernin shared anecdotes about his parents’ formal speech, life in a large family, children’s football clubs, and locker room behaviors, whether showering with or without underwear. Youness Hanifi reflected on his own beginnings in stand-up, real estate in Paris, unusual behaviors in public transport, and family dynamics, while Léopold Lemarchand structured his performance around internal stand-up rules and the notion of death.
Among the performances, Hugo Le Van’s act garnered particularly strong reactions from the audience as he delved into deliberately taboo subjects such as obesity and sexuality, while also poking fun at Parisian ‘bobos’. This bold approach evidently resonated well with the crowd.
Amine Radi, Jonathan O’Donnell, and Louis Cattelat also made surprise guest appearances during the evening, but they were not the only unexpected highlights...
Two performances broke away from the traditional stand-up format. The first was by magician Sossam, who invited Amandine Henry, a prominent figure in French women's football, on stage. Ahead of the festival, Sossam discussed the different dynamics of video versus live performances, emphasizing that “each medium has its own requirements. Videos today represent a nearly universal language. But live shows are something else entirely. It’s all about engaging with the audience in the moment.” He noted that he does not differentiate between French and Moroccan audiences, asserting that “magic touches something universal.” The second surprise came from mentalist Charlie Haid, who conducted an interactive segment where he attempted to guess the words three audience members were thinking of. The evening also featured a musical performance by singer Soprano, who closed the Gala with his participation.
In an interview with _Le360_, Nordine Ganso described the transition between his solo show and the Gala as a source of pressure. “I really felt the pressure as I transitioned from my show to the Gala. When I stepped off stage, I encountered numerous comedians finishing their performances, which added to my anxiety,” he shared. Nevertheless, he expressed “great pride” in being able to present his show in Morocco before his family and friends.
With Moroccan heritage through his mother, Ganso maintains a close relationship with the Kingdom, where he spends each summer. He had previously presented his show 'Violet' in Casablanca and Marrakech during earlier tours. When questioned prior to the event, he stated that his writing is rooted in a simple principle: sincerity. “The more sincere I am, the more people can relate, regardless of where they come from,” he explained.
The Francophone Gala concluded with a program largely focused on the new generation of humor, remaining true to Malik Bentalha’s goal of spotlighting emerging talents. The festival will close on Saturday, June 6, with a second performance of the Francophone Gala and a solo show by Yassar. For Nordine Ganso, this final event represented an opportunity to redeem himself after the pressure-laden first night; free from the tension of transitioning between his show and the Gala, he promised to “perform with more intensity” and “deliver even more” for this last performance.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
