Many believe that the French Revolution began with the storming of the Bastille, but Napoleon himself went so far as to claim that the real coup de grâce to the crown was a diamond necklace. The scandal behind that jewel, the murkiest in the history of Versailles, ultimately led to Marie Antoinette’s execution by guillotine. A brutal historical “catfish” that, brought into the present day, is now the inspiration behind the immersive play The Jury Experience in Buenos Aires.
16 August 2026 17:00 + more dates
Forged signatures and a queen’s double: how the masterful scam that destroyed Versailles unfolded
It is known as the “Necklace Affair” and began nearly 250 years ago with a plot full of curiosities and the scheme of a fake countess and con artist willing to do anything for a fortune. Her victim? An influential cardinal who was desperate to win Marie Antoinette’s favor, and whom she led to believe she could help because, according to her, she was a close friend of the queen.
To fuel the charade, he began showing her letters with forged signatures that hinted at a secret romance between them. The “confirmation” was a rendezvous in the dark in the gardens of Versailles, where a Marie Antoinette lookalike appeared to give him a rose. With the cardinal caught in the web, the big coup came with the order to buy her a million-dollar diamond necklace.
The cardinal, without hesitation, bought the jewel on installments and gave it to the woman. But the necklace never made it to court because he took it apart piece by piece to sell the diamonds on the black market.
Everything came to a head when the jewelers, having not received the first payment, demanded the fortune from the real queen, who didn’t understand a thing. Wanting to clear up the matter, the king made a fatal mistake: he ordered a public trial that ended up exposing the miseries of the nobility. And although Marie Antoinette was proven innocent, the people never believed her. That was the beginning of the end.
The necklace affair reimagined in an immersive play featuring testimonies and evidence in Buenos Aires
The Jury Experience is an interactive theater piece that feels like a real trial at the Margarita Xirgu Theater. Here, you become a real-life juror ready to analyze the evidence and hear the arguments of the prosecutor and the defense under the judge’s watchful eye. All to ultimately decide the defendant’s fate with your own vote alongside those of the rest of the courtroom.
The case you’ll solve is a modern-day replica of the Marie Antoinette scandal, though this time the one on trial is a disgraced former driver, accused of stealing a $20 million necklace from a global superstar. The driver swears he had nothing to do with it, but that’s for you to decide: is the diva telling the truth, or will you convict an innocent man because of a hoax?
Showtimes, prices, and how to get to Margarita Xirgu to see The Jury Experience
So you don’t miss a thing about this event, here are the key details you need to know:
- 📆 When? Sunday, August 16, and Saturday, October 3, 2026.
- ⏰ What time? At 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the first date and at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the second.
- 📍 Where is it? Chacabuco 875 (San Telmo)
- 💸 Price:Starting at $28,000 pesos.
- 🎟️ You can now buy tickets for The Jury Experience in Buenos Aires online.
