Getting grislyBased on the terrifying Papin murders, which took place in France during the early 19th-century, The Maids is a play of violence, jealousy and thwarted love. Directed by Jason Byrne and starring Phil Kingston, Karl Quinn and Deirdre Roycroft, it is running in Project Arts Centre until July 21st. Fascinated by the Papin murders, Jean Genet crafted his play with the passion and the tragedy of his own life and relationships. Space Upstairs, Project Arts Centre, 8pm, €20/€14
Be Informed . . .about the French take on world events by tuning into TG4. France 24, France's first international news channel to broadcast on a 24/7 basis, is shown on TG4 between the small hours of the morning and 7am. Too early for even the most dedicated Francophile? Simply set the DVD and we'll always have Paris.
Cirque du soleilCircus Week, starting tomorrow, promises seven days of spectacular outdoor performances in the streets of Temple Bar. Highlights will include a performance by Kwabana Lindsay of his show Fiddler on the Rope (tomorrow, Sunday 15th, 2pm & 3.30pm in Meeting House Square, which we mistakenly mentioned as taking place last Sunday). Then there's the premiere of a new walkabout circus performance called The Sommeliers from Bongo Bolero, the Italian Kerrymen known as the Fanzini Brothers, and a one-day extravaganza of Irish circus next Sunday, July 22nd, from 1pm). All events are free; for further information log on to www.templebar.ie or call into the Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre at 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
Allons enfantsL'esprit de l'escalier, literally "staircase wit", is the French term for those perfect comebacks, sadly always thought of moments later - when you're on the stairs leaving the building. Don't get stuck with this affliction by having a poor French vocabulary. The Alliance Française in Dublin offers conversation and general courses from July 30th to September 13th. Its next total immersion intensive week, which offers 20 hours of classes, runs from August 27th-31st and costs €200. See www.alliance-francais.ie or call 01-6761732. To find your nearest Alliance Française class, see www.alliance-francaise.ie.
Festival foliesA sell-out success last year, burlesque theatre company Fiat Lux returns to Kilkenny Arts Festival with a brand new show, Nouvelles Folies. It tells the story of a smart young city couple in search of a holiday. On arrival in a remote village by the sea, they find the behaviour of the fun-loving fishermen less than helpful. This wordless spectacle of French physical theatre promises an evening of clowning, absurdity and mischief-making. It runs from August 12th-14th at the Watergate Theatre, €18/€16. Meanwhile, a rare musical treat is also on offer. Legendary French Baroque musician Sébastien Marq will direct the Ensemble Wanda Landowska on August 16th. The ensemble - which includes soprano Elizabeth Dobbin, cellist Emmanuel Balssa and harpsichordist Raphael Collignon - will feature works by De Chancy, Charpentier, Marais and Montéclair. St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Thursday August 16th, 8pm, €20/€18, 056-7752175, www.kilkennyarts.ie
A touch of class. . .French school "French for All" starts its new term at the Malton Hotel in Killarney in October. It also holds cultural events such as wine-tastings and ends the year with a trip to France. For details, call 064-23580 or visit www.frenchforall.ie from August.
On the menu"Non, je ne regrette rien " is what you may sing merrily to yourself while tucking into a mouth-watering dessert at Chez Max on Palace Street, or a petit pastry in Léon on Trinity Street, both in Dublin 2. Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasurereckons "nothing is sinfully delicious. If you really enjoy something as I enjoy chocolate, there is a place for it in your life." But even if you can't crack the secret behind the French paradox, you can always eat there. The French Paradox in Dublin's Ballsbridge (above) combines a wine shop, a large and atmospheric ground floor wine bar (with weekly wine tastings) and a room on the first floor with an appetising charcuterie display (01-6604068).
Ardoa Food & Wine, Ireland's first boutique online food and wine store, can deliver a taste of France directly to your doorstep. Caran Aiken and Olivier Collin started importing from south and southwest France, aware that many wines from smaller and family-owned vineyards were under-represented in Ireland. They personally visit each winery involved to ensure its quality. They also produce their own food range and supply food from small artisan producer, Castelnaudry, as well as offering gourmet food and wine hampers and wine boxes. www.ardoafoodandwine.com
Garden heaven"Frog's Dream" seems a rather tongue-in-cheek name for a garden (below) designed by a Frenchman. It is just one of 15 currently on show at the International Garden Festival at Emo Court in Emo, Co Laois, which runs until September 23rd. The festival, which began in June, also features gardens designed by Irish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Australian and American talents. Other French offerings include the dreamily named 'The Garden That Time Forgot', 'Flower & Roll', 'The Family Tree', and 'Being and Collecting', which is a collaboration between one Australian and three French designers. For more information, see www.igf.ie.
Making scentsSophie Labbé's nose knows a thing or two: she is the first woman to have won the François Coty Prize in France - the Oscar of the perfume industry awarded to the creator of an original scent - and she has combined winning aromas for Armani and other top houses. She was recently photographed aboard the Jeannie Johnson in Dublin, at the launch of Inis Ór, a scent she created for Fragrances of Ireland that manages to be floral and spicy at the same time.
We're very partial to Inis perfumes in our house. Ten years ago, we swopped houses for a fortnight and left our demesne in Howth for a studio apartment in Paris. The French had just won the World Cup and were in robust mood. My son was 10 and still charmed by the carousels of Paris and the divertissements in the Bois de Boulogne. He was also prone to jump into any old fountain, but that's another story.
Anyway, it was hot, traipsing around between museums and carousels. The bottle of Inis in my bag was a godsend. To this day it brings back memories of those happy days in Paris. We're never without it, and it gets sprayed on bedclothes, too. And that's exactly what perfume is supposed to do: evoke, refresh, attract and stimulate. "Our philosophy is to inspire people through their senses and make them happy," says David Cox (far left) the director of the company. And Peter Sellers (middle), the creative director, goes into orbit when describing their mission to evoke a sense of exuberance.
Sophie Labbé clearly understood her brief, read her Ulysses, and cooked up a new scent that is perfect for long Irish summer evenings. We suppose Inis Mór is next. (Inis Ór is available from chemists and stockists, €45 for 100ml.) Patsey Murphy
Hidden treasureA 10-course market menu with aperitifs, wine pairings, and a steadying espresso, all for €60. In Paris. Surely some mistake? Happily not, and the exciting thing about Hidden Kitchen, a tiny 12-seat "restaurant" set in a Parisian apartment, is that the menu changes week by week to take account of what's in season. American chef Braden Perkins and his girlfriend Laura Adrian have lots of Californian influences on their menus, and yet the produce is sourced in the markets of Paris. Recent offerings included roasted corn soup with black bean salsa and crème fraîche; Heirloom tomatoes and arugula over chilled mozzarella fondue; and this Parmesan crisp with blue cheese mousse topped with roasted beets and thyme. The soirees currently run on Sunday nights only, with Saturday openings from August 25th. However, you can book the entire table for eight to 12 guests, for the €60 "donation" per head, on any day except Sunday. Hidden Kitchen is in the 1st arrondissement, detailed directions are provided with your confirmation e-mail. Reservations at www.hkmenus.com. Marie-Claire Digby