<p>With the hope of finding some gold, Pierrot and Polichinelle break into the Sorcier’s (Sorcerer) house, but they are caught by a Poule noire (Black Hen) that attacks them. Polichinelle runs away with the Poule, but Pierrot, trapped, hides in a cauldron. Panicked, the Sorcier calls his colleagues for help, and they all try to bring the Poule back using a potion prepared in the cauldron. Pierrot moves around in the cauldron (which makes the Sorciers run away) and uncovers himself. To punish him, the Sorcier turns his head into that of a donkey. Meanwhile, Polichinelle is starving and kills the Poule, making it disappear: the Diable (Devil) appears in its stead. To punish Polichinelle, the Diable gives him the head of a red donkey. Polichinelle and Pierrot come back and threaten the Sorcier into giving them their appearance back; the Sorcier tells them that he lost his powers when he lost his Poule. Pierrot searches through the Sorcier’s potions and finds a cream that gives him his head back. However, the Sorcier runs away with the cream, chased by Pierrot. A Cocher (Coachman) arrives, thinks that Polichinelle is gorgeous, whips him and wants to hitch him to his cart. Polichinelle defends himself with his stick and the Cocher runs away. Desperate to get his head back, Polichinelle tries another one of the Sorcier’s creams, but his head turns into that of a pig. A Charcutier (Pork butcher) sees Polichinelle and is in awe of the talking pig; Polichinelle thinks that he is insane and chases him away with his stick. Pierrot comes back with the remedy, and Polichinelle gets his real head back. Polichinelle leaves with Pierrot and encounters the Sorcier: he kills him with a single blow of a stick.</p>

Glove-puppet

All audiences

France

Paris

Printed

Sorcery

Naivety

Cauldron

Donkey

Comical

Farcical

Fantastic

French

Magician

Sorcerer

Polichinelle

Pierrot

Devil

Coachman

Pork butcher

Metamorphosis

Apparition of the Devil

Chase

Hidden character

Dance

Running gag

Blow-with-a-stick

Whiplash

Death on stage

Unexpected turn of events

Disappearance

Characterisation through onomatopoeia

La Poule noire

The Black Hen

<p>Monsieur Durand owns a factory and is looking for someone to replace him while he leaves on holidays. He offers the position to Guignol. Because his factory produces blows with a stick, he starts hitting Guignol. Guignol grabs the stick--it is his turn to hit Monsieur Durand, whom he leaves for dead. The Gendarme (policeman) comes in. He tries to seduce Madelon. When he discovers Monsieur Durand’s body, he wants to capture the murderer. Madelon succeeds in making him leave, and she brings Monsieur Durand back to life. The Gendarme comes back but he is driven out once and for all. Monsieur Durand gives Guignol the job.</p>

La Poule noire

Guignol veut s'enrichir

Guignolade en un acte