In the Perche region, where cultural offerings are scarce, the Barbapaillettes troupe, founded by William Morel and his partner David as Molly Mercury, has taken up residence in Sablons-sur-Huisne. Backed by the local mayor, it stages dinner-shows blending drag-queens, singing, and magic, drawing an expanding audience. These events provide high-quality entertainment without requiring long trips to larger cities.
The Barbapaillettes troupe has settled in Sablons-sur-Huisne, a town of 1,900 residents in the Orne department, where cultural access remains limited. In residence at the Condé-Confluence hall, which holds 350 people, it hosts shows mixing drag performances, lip-sync singing, and magic acts. That evening, Molly Mercury, dressed in a black suit, orange wig, and elaborate hat, performs the song 'Déshabillez-moi…' in playback; it was written by Robert Nyel for a strip-teaseuse and popularized by Juliette Gréco starting in 1967. She partially undresses on stage, delighting an audience enjoying this local dinner-show and sparing them trips of 50 kilometers to Chartres, 60 to Dreux, or 130 to Paris. Lady Karamel, a Paris-based transformiste and the only performer from outside the area, delivers humor and emotion, while illusionist Loïc Marquet has the crowd in stitches. William Morel, wearing an earpiece and a sparkling blue jacket, oversees everything as co-founder with Molly Mercury. Described as 'culture makers,' this venture enjoys the local mayor's support and meets a regional demand for diverse, bold entertainment.