We know she's there before we even speak to her. Mediterranean accent, sunny energy and chiseled humor, she arrives like a storm, smile on her lips and sparkling eyes. Noëlle Perna, aka Mado la Niçoise, is not only a comedian: she is an institution. For more than twenty years, she has taken her colorful character, her outspokenness and her generosity to the biggest stages in France. Today, she is back in the Riviera capital with the aim of never leaving again. On the stage of the Théâtre de l'Eau Vive, in Nice, this Sunday and Monday, as well as for New Year's Eve, with his show “Mado, special holidays”. A return to his roots, certainly not retirement for the 70-year-old artist, rather a solid anchor. The opportunity to chat with a lively and committed actress.
You are back on the Nice stage, at the Théâtre de l'Eau Vive, of which you are also the godmother. What do you feel?
It's a special emotion, because Nice is my home. I felt it was time to come back. I've been touring for twenty years and I'm a little saturated. I was tired of being on the roads, I wanted to get back to my city. And then reconnect with this Nice audience, the one who made me. The journey that I have had the chance to take is thanks to those who supported me from the very beginning. It is a fair return to give back to the people of Nice what was given to me. I aim to anchor myself again in the city by proposing a meeting. Not a series of performances three times in the same week, no, that's not what interests me. I want to be able to play regularly, like in a monthly meeting. I did it for a year at Ruhl [Casino Barrière Le Ruhl, ndlr] in order to break down my new show a little and begin the reunion with the public. The location was great, but it's forbidden for under 18s, and it's not a theater, the audience is mainly gamblers. These elements started to bother me after a year, so I decided to go play elsewhere, in a place that I haven't found yet, I'm still looking for one.
In “Mado fait son cabaret”, in “reduced” format at Eau Vive, you make a lot of references to Nice, in particular its tourists and Airbnbs, or even the recent demolitions of buildings…
I think I could call this reduced format, with three on stage, “Le petit cabaret de Mado”, and the other, with seven actors, “Le grand cabaret de Mado”. This show has two DNAs: that of Mado, and that of Nice, even if one goes a little with the other. I would say that it is a special Nice spectacle with, inside, the ingredients of what makes Nice today. So obviously I'm talking about overtourism and Airbnbs, the demolition of Acropolis and the TNN and even the Eagle of Nice! The goal is obviously not to make a reactionary show. I myself live in Old Nice, so I see the decline with my own eyes. It’s a neighborhood that is being sacrificed. Everyone I knew who lived there is moving out. But I will stay. Like Catherine Ségurane, I resist!
You are an artist involved in the charitable field. You regularly participate in events, are a sponsor of the Alpes-Maritimes Food Bank… Why is this important?
At the moment, I also hope to be able to do a gala for Mayotte with Secours populaire. It's planned to do it in a few months, when no one will think about it anymore and they will still need help… With the Food Bank, I participated in a gala. It is the parent company, the Alpes-Maritimes headquarters, which then distributes to all the associations. It's important to get to the heart of the help. I wanted to have Christmas dinner with the homeless too, but unfortunately I got sick. I think everyone can help at their own level. Everyone brings what they have to contribute, at their own level. I think it's better that I do galas rather than hand out soup.
You've seen humor evolve in recent years. How would you describe the comedy landscape today?
Humor evolves with the times. Today, stand-up dominates, it's not my school. Me, I like the universes, the characters, the stories. I admire artists like Karine Dubernet, who embodies her characters with crazy intensity, or Laura Felpin, who is a rare gem. They are actresses who manage to create a world around them. I like artists who manage to portray a character. Jérôme Commandeur does this very well. Jonathan Cohen is very good too. He doesn't act alone on stage, but I think he's the one who brought parody a little up to date. For me, in cinema and in series, it is a must.
The year 2024 is coming to an end, what would be your wishes for the year 2025?
I like to work with inspirational quotes. For next year, it will be: “We must not wait for the storm to pass, but learn to dance in the rain”. I will try to implement it, but I also encourage everyone to do so. It's not going to be an easy year, so I tell myself that it's a sentence that can be encouraging. I think Mado's character is encouraging too, it's an energy booster. It unites, brings hope and gives confidence. I believe these are important qualities in the times we are going through.
>”Mado holiday special”, this Sunday 29 at 5 p.m. and Monday December 30 at 7 p.m., 40 euros. Tuesday December 31 at 7 p.m., 55 euros. Théâtre de l'Eau Vive, 10 boulevard Carabacel in Nice. Rens. theatredeleauvive.com
“Bio express”
1954: she was born in Philippeville, today Skikda, then in French Algeria.
1961: she moved to Nice with her family. His parents took over “Le Bar des Oiseaux”, in Old Nice.
1974: she becomes the owner of the bar and alternates between service and small sketches given behind the counter.
1999: she opened “Le Théâtre des Oiseaux”. A small stage to make your first performances and program other emerging local artists.
2003: she leaves the Nice scene and leaves to try her luck in Paris. She will not return definitively until twenty years later.
