Clovis, Thais and I before cutting into the cake.

I heard this story during dinner tonight with my host parents and Thais, a Brazilian girl also living with the Maunourys who studies at the Sorbonne. We dined through our bread and homemade hummus, salad, shrimp and pasta, and were eating cheese and bread with bordeaux as Madame Maunoury shared the following…

More than forty years ago, Grace Kelly heard about musicians who could play on saws (the hand tool for cutting wood) and she decided she wanted very much to hear one. Try as they might, her directors from Monaco could not find her such a musician.

One day, Gerhard Maunoury received a call at his appartement in Paris. Could you play the saw for Grace Kelly? Of course! he replied, though he'd never played the saw before. He was educated in painting. Fortunately, his wife Elizabeth knew the musically well-rounded organist at church who agreed to teach her impulsive husband how to play this strange yet desired instrument. Several days later, Gerhard left for Monaco with a saw and two songs.

“What if they ask you to play another song?” worried his wife.

“I will play the first one again,” he replied easily.

Gerhard was accompanied by 15 gypsies. Gypsies played as musicians in most distinguished restaurants at the time but were rarely presented opportunities to play together in large groups. They were incredibly talented. Two songs from the musician on the saw and 15 gypsies satisfied Grace Kelley and her visitors. The next day, Gerhard returned home although the invitation at Monaco lasted several more days.

“Why did you come home so early? Querried Elizabeth.

“They were boring,” Gerhard replied.

This is Monsieur Gerhard Maunoury, known also as Clovis. The artist, musician, writer, actor, and my home-stay father. If you have time, go to his website but at LEAST watch his trailer: Clovis le musicopathe Trailer