They are young, beautiful, single and sometimes gay these " new romantics", but terribly alone, because they�re searching for love - XXL! "They�re people who believe in love, of times when it�s easy to arrange meetings but so difficult to commit to a serious relationship, explains St�phane Ly-Cuong. I wanted to create a show, which was dedicated specifically to the songs of the Eighties - those which single people, who are now in their thirties, had heard in their youth - by putting them into situations which could be happening today. To begin with, these songs are musically very dated, they can appear "idiotic"! But by altering the songs� original arrangements and them also being sung by singers with incredible voices, they take on truly dramatic dimensions. From beginning to end, they make it possible to be able to tell of the progression of love: loves desires, the euphoria of a meeting, the break-up, the depression which results from this and the hope of a relationship being revived.

Although played to a differing melody, it is a rather dark show because the characters are all alone, faced with their neurosis about love. I also wanted to express the idea that relationships can be experienced in a virtual way: a partner�s image on the screen of a mobile telephone or a computer!" Already the writer of the short film "Paradisco" where he used this same recipe between laughter and drama, St�phane Ly-Cuong (who also writes for "Illico") directs these "New romantics" his first musical show, with songs from Myl�ne Farmer, Sheila, Sylvie Vartan or Karen Cheryl!

Pierre Frau
www.e-llico.com