In the setting of a once-familiar, middle-class living space, five older men move around, think deeply, and engage in various activities. They try out risky experiments, hold on to past achievements, and often find themselves going in circles. It's unclear what they are searching for, and even they might not know. La Mélancolie des paquebots is a play by Benoît Lambert that blends black comedy with a sense of celebration. The show is a mix of different styles, moving from rough sketches to poetic moments, from shaky performances to thoughtful political commentary. On stage, five actors portray men who are out of breath, remnants of a male-dominated world that is slowly falling apart. The play does not look for heroes or redemption. Instead, it watches these characters move one last time, with a mix of care and intensity, much like observing an old ship complete its final journey. The performance is humorous, irritating, sometimes harsh, and perhaps, in this farewell without illusions, unexpectedly freeing. La Mélancolie des paquebots features Robert Angebaud, Antoine Besson, Christophe Brault, Étienne Grebot, and Emmanuel Vérité. Étienne Rabaud serves as the assistant to direction, Antoine Franchet handles set design and lighting, Violaine L. Chartier is responsible for costumes, and Fabrice Drevet manages sound. Philippe Lambert is the general stage manager, with set construction and costume realization by Ateliers de la Comédie de Saint-Étienne – CDN. The production is by La Comédie de Saint-Étienne – CDN, with support from DIESE, an insertion device of L’École de la Comédie de Saint-Etienne © Sensay. Étienne Rabaud is affiliated with L’École de la Comédie. The play was first presented at La Comédie de Saint-Étienne – CDN from 6 to 16 October 2026. It will be performed at Theatre Dijon Bourgogne – CDN from 24 November to 2 December 2026, and at Theatre de la Tempête – Paris from 5 to 13 December 2026.