Paris: Funeral of “Michou”, famous cabaret director – Monde

The coffin of “Michou” was applauded Friday by a crowd of several hundred people when it entered the Saint-Jean de Montmartre church in Paris. Died Sunday at the age of 88, he had welcomed his clients at rue des Martyrs for more than 60 years every evening.

His real name Michel Catty, “Michou” – who inspired the character of Zaza in the film “La cage aux folles” – had opened in 1956 his famous cabaret in the Montmartre district in Paris. Celebrities and strangers rub shoulders with him for his shows by transformist artists, himself being on stage every night to launch the show.

Long before the fashion for “drag queens”, Michou paved the way in France for entertainment transformism. He presented the first post-war spectacle made up of men dressing up as women to caricature the stars of the time. His tiny cabaret had become an international benchmark in this area.

Friday, the wife of French President Brigitte Macron, ex-Prime Minister Alain Juppe, director Claude Lelouch or actress Anny Duperey were present at the arrival of the blue hearse, the favorite color of the owner of the cabaret who wears his last name.

“You did more for tolerance than all the speeches … Now you’re going to rest,” said Anny Duperey during a tribute in the church, located three minutes from the cabaret.

The speeches from the funeral were broadcast on loudspeakers outside Saint-Jean de Montmartre, the gates of which were decorated with two photos of Michou, for all those who had been unable to enter.

They called her “mom”

Michou rests in a padded blue coffin, in accordance with his wishes. He was then buried in the Saint-Vincent cemetery in Montmartre. Cabaret staff – who called her “mom” – attended the ceremony. Neighbors of the church had displayed blue flags on the windows.

“I am fortunate to be a notorious and loved homosexual,” said Michou, who received once a month in his small establishment elderly people from the neighborhood. In his memoirs published in 2017, Michou wanted his cabaret to stop after his disappearance. “I want this house to disappear with me. It may seem pretentious, but the cabaret will not survive me, ”he wrote. (Ps / nxp)

Created: 01.31.2020, 1.15 p.m.

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