The end justifies the means, they say, but the end of what? Of democracy? Of capitalism? Of grilled cheese? Do we always get the right advice on the best way to rule?

In the 4th century of the post-Google era, humans have deserted Earth and taken up residence aboard Globotrons, which are in fact fearsome vessels named Couche-Tard, Québecor, Ashton, Yoplait, Florenska and Midi-Six. As they wage a sly and sometimes barbaric trade war, an unexpected attack shakes the man nicknamed the Prince, on his first day at the helm of the family business.

Which builder dared to defy the Prince? The end justifies the means, they say, but the end of what? Of democracy? Of capitalism? Of grilled cheese? Do we always get the right advice on the best way to rule?

The Italian Nicolas Machiavelli wrote The Prince in the 16th century as a letter to Prince Lorenzo de' Medici. In it, he offers some questionable political advice, such as “It is safer to be feared than to be loved” and “To govern is to put your subjects in no position to harm you, or even to think about it”.

These reflections on the exercise of power are a must-read, a bedside book for many politicians. Those who have read it, like François Legault, know that “Gouverner, c'est faire croire” (“Governing is making people believe”).

The Théâtre du Double signe was the brainchild behind the idea of tackling The Prince, in co-production with Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, and with the creators of Théâtre du Futur as brothers-in-arms, x-raying the collective unconscious with an always clever sense of humor.