Charlie Dupont: Change Boredom with a Mustache
Play Explores Mental Health, ”Crazy Love” Through Whimsical Lens
Table of Contents
A stage adaptation of While waiting for Bojangles
delves into themes of mental health and unconventional love.
An unpredictable and exuberant young woman gradually descends into madness, but her husband and son do everything to protect her and continue to live together through it all. their story unfolds in a whirlwind of dreams and parties.
This is the essence of While waiting for Bojangles,
a best-selling novel by Olivier Bourdeaut released in 2016. The story has since been adapted into comics and a film starring Romain Duris and Virginie Efira, and now a play.
The play offers a poetic and fanciful way to evoke bipolarity and schizophrenia, but also crazy love
in every sense of the word, between two parents, as told from the outlook of their child. Actor Charlie Dupont was touched by the story.
I believe that whatever our cracks, even if they are psychiatric, as long as we manage to pick up the pieces of a story, even a shaky one, we can get out of it.Charlie Dupont, Actor
The play shares laughter and emotions, with the character CamilleS whims, inventing a thousand lives and first names, punctuated by the cries of his African bird, aptly named Superior Mademoiselle,
and the song Bojangles
by Nina Simone, which gives the piece its title.
An atypical Teacher
Sweet madness also characterizes Charlie Dupont. The Belgian actor has appeared in many comedies in cinema,theater,and television,notably in the series The Fault of Rousseau,
where he played an atypical beliefs teacher who helps his students solve their existential problems.
Dupont said he loved the role, It is probably the closest to myself that I had to play, with this side on the sidelines, even if I no longer live with my mother!
The series ran for two seasons but was not renewed.
Questions of Happiness
Interviewer: When you get up in the morning, are you in a good mood or are you the type who says, Do not approach me before I have had my coffee?
Dupont: No! Even after two or three coffees, I am still unapproachable. My wife calls me Jean-Pierre Bacri until 1:30 p.m. And I don’t know if you remember this comic book character called Rahan?
Interviewer: The son of Craô,that of fierce ages?
Dupont: Exactly! Well,I am Râlan! In fact,if I slept all my drunk,everything is fine and I am very happy. But if I did not sleep my eight hours, my prism of apprehension of life changes radically and everyone bothers me!
Interviewer: So once you have had your coffee, when you have a little depression, what do you do to cheer up?
Dupont: Sport, and in particular, kitesurfing. Sport in nature refreshes me. Or else, I will run in the woods not far from my home. Brussels is very green. It is not said often enough, but there is a magnificent forest in the city.So that, and I ride my bike.
Interviewer: Is there a place that makes you feel good, where you like to recharge your batteries?
Dupont: The sea, really. Sea, mountain, I love the mountain from the moment when the horizon gives us an idea of the curvature of the globe, I am happy. In fact, I pretend that the brain breaks down when walls are too long near the eyes. It has to breathe!
Interviewer: Is there a person who counted a lot for you in your personal or professional life and to whom you really want to say thank you today?
Dupont: I will quote a Frenchman who was very vital, who is called Stéphane Andrieux and who lives in Belgium now. He was one of the first who stretched my hand by telling me, in improv, it was improvised at the time, about 30 years ago, Maybe you might have something to do in this job.
And he prepared me for the conservatory, which I obviously completely missed. But he is one of those, of whom I saw in the eye, that I could go there.
Interviewer: I also thought of Robin Williams…
Dupont: Obviously, there is not a somewhat scene stake,
I would say, in The fault of Rousseau
that I did not dedicate him. Because he was still there,somewhere,Captain,My Captain
of course!
Interviewer: you know the saying,to live happy,let’s live hidden.
But for you, to live happy, how should you live?
Dupont: In the present. To live happy, you have to live in the present. Why in the present? Because present means gift.
Because I believe very deeply that time does not exist and it is a mental construction which harms a lot.
Interviewer: That is to say that we should not regret the past, nor anticipate the future?
Dupont: Yes, I believe that not only is it useless, but in addition it pollutes the mind and that what is happening, is happening here and now.
Interviewer: Let’s also live by taking a step back with humor,like you?
Dupont: Ah bullshit! We are talking about artificial intelligence,I believe much more about real bullshit than to artificial intelligence.
Interviewer: And let’s live by wearing the mustache for a hair life, because you often have the mustache!
Dupont: Yes, for barely 15 years. But I use it a lot because myself, it changes my mouth when I look at myself in the mirror. I advise all those who are bored, whose ego gets tired, to change mouth with a mustache!
Exploring Mental Health and “Crazy Love” in “While Waiting for Bojangles”
What is “While Waiting for Bojangles” About?
“While Waiting for Bojangles” is a play adapted from Olivier Bourdeaut’s best-selling novel released in 2016. The story delves into complex themes of mental health, including bipolarity and schizophrenia, and explores the concept of “crazy love” between two parents, all seen through the eyes of their child. The narrative follows an exuberant young woman as she gradually descends into a state of madness, while her husband and son strive to protect her and maintain their life together amidst dreams and parties. Sence its original release, the story has also been adapted into comics, and a film starring Romain Duris and Virginie Efira.
Who Stars in the play?
The play features Charlie Dupont alongside Tania Garbarski and Jérémie Petrus, on a berger-Perrin victory staging.
How Does the Play Explore Mental Health?
The play adopts a poetic and imaginative approach to portray mental health challenges like bipolarity and schizophrenia.Through the character’s whims and fantasies, and the inclusion of elements like an African bird named “Superior Mademoiselle” and the song “Bojangles” by Nina Simone, the play evokes the realities of living wiht mental illness and the impact on relationships.
What Did Charlie Dupont Say About the Play?
Charlie Dupont, one of the actors, was deeply touched by the story. He stated, “I believe that whatever our cracks, even if they are psychiatric, as long as we manage to pick up the pieces of a story, even a shaky one, we can get out of it.”
What are Charlie Dupont’s Thoughts on Happiness and well-being?
In an interview, Charlie dupont shared his perspective on happiness. Key takeaways include:
Living in the Present: He emphasizes living in the present, which he views as a “gift.” He believes that dwelling on the past or anticipating the future can be harmful.
Importance of Sleep: Dupont acknowledges that getting enough sleep (eight hours) is crucial for his well-being. Lack of sleep, he says, considerably alters his “prism of apprehension of life.”
Coping Mechanisms: He finds solace in physical activities, especially sports in nature like kitesurfing or running in the woods.
Importance of Connection: He emphasizes the influence of positive relationships, and credits Stéphane Andrieux, for encouraging him by telling him in an improv, ”Maybe you might have something to do in this job.”
What is “The Fault of Rousseau?”
“The Fault of Rousseau” is a television series in which Charlie Dupont played an atypical teacher. This role was considered to be one the closest to himself.
Summary of Key Aspects:
| Aspect | Description | Notable Elements |
| —————— | —————————————————————————————— | ——————————————————- |
| Main Theme | mental health, ”crazy love” | Madness, unconventional relationships |
| Source Material | Novel by Olivier Bourdeaut | Adapted into comics, film, and now a play |
| Approach | Poetic and fanciful | Whimsical storytelling, use of music (“Bojangles” by Nina Simone) |
| main Characters | Unpredictable young woman, her husband, and their son. | |
| Actor’s Insights | Charlie Dupont emphasizes the importance of living in the present,healthy coping mechanism,and the importance of sleep and connection through relationships | View time as a construction that harms |