There's a grape called folle blanche used in making armagnac. Generally it's blended but some producers, Domaine Boignières for example, are brave enough to make an armagnac wholly out of folle blanche -- and they do it well.
The grape is often criticized for being too brash and creating an armagnac that lacks subtlety and finesse. The same might be said of another folle blanche, that is Isabelle Huppert's Blanche DuBois in the production of Un Tramway nommé désir, currently playing at L'Odéon. Huppert is impressive -- in fact she's basically the whole show. There are other actors but they can't compete with her in this production.
Yet something's missing. William's Blanche DuBois has a frailty about her that elicits the spectator's sympathy. Yes, she's delusional but you wish she could find the happy ending she's looking for. Perhaps it's the mise en scène or the St Laurent and Dior clothes, but Huppert's Blanche left me wanting something else. As the play ends, Blanche reminds us that she has always depended on the kindness of strangers.
View her kindly ...
