The first act is set in a church, where a group of Dévotes (pious persons) and a group of Sans-culottes (revolutionaries during the French Revolution) confront each other. The revolutionaries want to punish Parisian priests for their abuses and their crimes. As for the Dévotes and the priests, they are impatiently expecting a Catholic army to storm through Paris and put an end to the Revolution. The abbot Blondinet is disguised as a bourgeois and tries to rape Rose, a young girl who manages to escape him. The Sans-culottes want to get rid of the priests. A Magistrat (Magistrate) arrives and seizes the church’s furniture, but Blondinet tells the Dévotes that he managed to hide some of it. The second act is set just outside the church, on a public square. Blondinet set up a “Temporary Chapel” inside the shop of a Savetier (cobbler), next to that of a Fruitère (fruit merchant). A Chansonnier (Singer) and his wife arrive on the square and the people come closer to listen to their songs. A puppeteer, Brioché, joins them with his wife and performs his play of a “new genre” – La Calotte au tombeau. Together, the puppeteer and the Chansonnier condemn the Church’s abuses with the help of puppets and songs. The Sans-culottes exit the church with a stretcher as they perform a symbolic burial of objects of worship. A child from the choir, Cascaret, denounces Blondinet as a thief. The Sans-culottes take him alongside the Dévotes so they can be judged by the Committee of Public Safety. The third act is set in a cave in which three see-through paintings are displayed – La Saint Barthélémy, Le Massacre des Cévennes and Les Vêpres Siciliennes. Standing on a pile of bones, Superstition, Célibat (Celibacy) and Fanatisme (Fanaticism) are chained to posts. The action assumes an allegorical form with these three monstrous figures and several other symbols of crimes caused by religious intolerance. Several references are made to Christoph Willibald’s opera – Orpheus and Eurydice. The Ombre (Shadow) of the revolutionary Marat (murdered in July 1793) is called by the Génie de la France (France’s Genie) who arrives on a cloud. The Ombre rises out of the earth with a bloody shroud around it. The three monsters disappear in a volcano. Instead, a magnificent and luminous temple appears – the Temple of Truth. Liberté (Liberty), Vérité (Truth) and Égalité (Equality) are placed on an altar. The Troup of Sans-culottes also appears and dances with a Magistrate of the people. The Peuple (the People), Orphelins de la Patrie (Orphans of the homeland), the Députés (Deputies) of the National Convention and the Artisans (Craftsmen) march victoriously. The Convention’s President reads out a speech commending the revolutionaries. An Évêque (Bishop) admits his faults and after making a speech praising Raison (Reason), he burns his priestly vestments. The Orphelins and Orphelines who were harmed by fanaticism sing with defenders of the homeland and do gymnastic exercises. The Citoyens (Citizens) of the first requisition showcase military exercises which draw parallels between scenes from Antiquity and from the Revolution. The play ends on an ode to Vérité (Truth), a mention of the victory over the Austrians and the emigrants, and finally a collective ballet.

Not specified

France

Paris

Printed

French Revolution

Sans-culotte

Opéra-Comique

Religion

People

Priest

State

Wealth

Abuse

Justice

Truth

Satirical

Dramatic

Comical

Fantastic

Le Tombeau des imposteurs et l'Inauguration du Temple de la Vérité, 1793 (title page).

French

President

Magistrato

Choirboy

Peasant (man)

Zapatera

Bishop

Charlatan

Jean-Paul Marat

Ghost

Countess

Mother

Daughter

Governess

Troupe de Satellites du fanatisme travestis en Furies

Puppeteer

Puppet

Musical pause

Chorus

Monologue

Puppet theatre within the theatre

Changement de langue

Dialect as a social marker

Allegory

Speechless character

Dance

Public announcement

Avista

Music

Aria

Versified passages

Popular speech

Ballet

Le Tombeau des imposteurs et l'Inauguration du Temple de la Vérité

The impostors' Tomb and the Inauguration of the Temple of Truth

Polichinell enters singing, reveling in spring. He stops in a forest for a snack break. A starving dog comes, and he gives it a piece of bread. The dog undergoes a metamorphosis: it actually is Fairy Rosa (Fée Rosa), who was the prisoner of a spell and who is now free of it thanks to Polichinell’s generosity. She wants to reward him, but Polichinell refuses because he wants to stay poor. He meets Herr von Neid (Desire) and accepts to be his servant. The Devil, who wishes for Polichinell’s downfall, rejoices to have brought them together. Neid and his wife Bosheit (Wickedness) overwhelm him with work, but Polichinell manages to complete the work straight away. Bosheit entrusts Polichinell with her little daughter Unart (Bad habit), who will not stop crying, and who accidentally falls out of the window. Bosheit comes back, learns of Unart’s fall, and beats him with a stick. Polichinell fights back, knocks her out, and does the same to Neid. Fairy Rosa advises Polichinell, who has now become rich thanks to Herr von Neil’s assets, to carry on with his good behavior. In Polichinell’s new house, Habakuk, his servant, leaves him after stealing some of his wealth. Türk the dog bites Polichinell’s nose and Hector the horse kicks him before biting him. After many failed attempts, Polichinell manages to climb on Hector’s back, but the horse makes him fall and flees. Herr von Schadenfroh (The One who rejoices from the misfortune of others), who pretends to be Polichinell’s friend, bursts out of laughter after hearing his misadventures. They fight, and Herr von Shadenfroh is killed by Polichinell. Princess Miauline asks Polichinell to deliver her father, the King of Trapezunt, who is the prisoner of the Magician Gewalt (Violence). The Devil unsuccessfully warns Gewalt of Polichinell’s arrival: Gewalt is convinced that his constable Popanz (Straw) will defend him. Polichinell, thanks to an enchanted chime gifted by Fairy Rosa, makes the castle’s guards fall asleep and frees the King of Trapezunt. At the entrance of the palace, he meets Habakuk, who has become Gewalt’s servant and who refuses to let him in. Polichinell beats Habakuk, enchants Gewalt with the chime, fights, and kills him. Habakuk comes back and has Polichinell arrested and brought before Gewalt. After a mock-trial, Polichinell is sentenced to death by hanging. Polichinell is imprisoned and robbed of the talisman which the fairy had given him, and which served as a protection. Habakuk is in charge of Polichinell’s hanging, but Polichinell manages to hang him instead and then kills Popanz and his guards. Polichinell calls the Devil, fights with him, and kills him. The Fairy makes her appearance again and officiates Polichnell and Miauline’s wedding.

Young audiences

Germany

Wickedness

Reward

Murder

Labour

Fantasy

German

Polichinelle

Fairy

King

Princess

Count

Minister

Policeman

Baby

Domestic servant

Genie

Horse

Devil

Guard

Song

Metamorphosis

Apparition of the Devil

Blow-with-a-stick

Death on stage

Hanging scene

Final wedding

Polichinell

In a conversation between Cassandre and his servant Pierrot, we learn that the entire world has been disrupted: a “fluide tournant” (turning fluid) has been discovered, and people are in a frenzy of trying to make things turn. A “société d’honneur” (honour society) even offers Cassandre the prestigious title of “Chef des Tontonmanes” (Leader of the Tontonmanes). However, after eight days of experiments at his home, no concluding results were obtained. Desperate, Cassandre orders Pierrot to publish an advertisement: he will give his daughter’s hand and his cash register’s key to the first man who will succeed in “making something - anything - turn”. Colombine, Cassandre’s daughter, enters the stage in tears. She is in love with Arlequin but her father categorically opposes their union. Shortly after, Arlequin reassures Colombine: he has a plan to overcome this obstacle. Meanwhile, Tournesol (Sunflower), an odd man, arrives and introduces himself as a “professeur de Tontonmanie” (teacher of Tontonmanie). Actually, Tournesol was desperate and about to kill himself when he heard of Pierrot’s advertisement. The prospect of marrying a young woman and gaining a case full of money is an unhoped chance for him of finding a new will to live. Tournesol starts a conversation with Cassandre and offers to make the house turn to prove how well he masters this turning fluid. However, Cassandre is scared of his house collapsing, and flatly refuses. The situation is now very tense: Tournesol promises to carry out his threat and demands Colombine’s hand as well as the key to the case. Then, Arlequin, dressed as a magician, enters the stage. He makes a bottle of wine and a pâté dance, and then, a table starts talking. When Tournesol tries to find out the secret to this miracle, he is mysteriously hit. Arlequin convinces Cassandre that he is gifted with a mental strength that can make things happen: everytime that Cassandre moves his hands or feet, Tournesol is hit (actually by a very discreet Arlequin). After being hit several times, the humiliated Tournesol runs away. Shortly after, a Marchand (Merchant) arrives at Cassandre’s house and demands damages: his china and objects made of glass have started to dance. Despite this, Cassandre is happy and believes in his miraculous mental gift. Colombine can marry her beloved Arlequin.

String marionette

Manuscript

Magic

Farce

Impostor

Love

Farcical

Cassandra

Arlecchino

Pierrot

Suitor

Merchant (man)

Colombine

Nurse

Sung scenes

Off-stage voice

Aside

Object coming to life

Disguised character (false identity)

Situation comedy

La Tontonmanie

The Tontonmanie

Doctor Sassafras is pleased to have a client as hypochondriac as Steinreich. This rich and selfish man forbids his niece Marie from continuing to see his secretary Schreiber, whom he dismisses. Steinreich envisions a more beneficial match for his niece. Doctor Sassafras makes a deal with the devil to summon Death. Schreiber then attempts suicide, but a gravedigger saves him, as Death is detained in Sassafras’ enchanted chair. The Devil realises that his pact with Sassafras is detrimental to him and breaks their contract. Death comes fetch the doctor, who turns to God and hopes for His mercy. In the meantime, Steinreich converted: he has become charitable and, most importantly, no longer opposes Marie and Schreiber’s union.

Pocci Franz von

Munich

Medicine

Knödel

Usurpation

Drink

Surgery

Prestige

Champagne

Misery

Forced marriage

Hypochondria

Vanity

Cemetery

Faust

Bible

Suicide

Sentimentalism

Pathetic

Burlesque

Title page in the original edition of Pocci's comedies

oder Doctor, Tod und Teufel

Doctor

Kasperl

Secretary

Death

Gravedigger

Apparition

Parody of formal language

Light effects

Pact with the devil

Philosophical dialogue

Doctor Sassafras

The king's daughter is to be married, but she will only marry a man who is both rich and intelligent. Known for his wit, Arlequin arrives at the palace, only to be beaten back with a stick by the Swiss guard at the entrance. Desperate, he confides his misadventure to a beggar, who suggests that he should become rich by setting up a business in beating people with sticks. Arlequin decides to do so. The customers, who come in great numbers, make his fortune. But Arlequin, increasingly revolted by their wickedness, ends up beating his customers with a stick. Rich enough and threatened with hanging by the Commissaire, he gives his business to Pierrot for free. Pierrot hangs the Commissaire, who has come to hang him, and comes to ask Arlequin for an explanation. Thanks to his wealth and wit, Arlequin is able to marry the princess and have Pierrot appointed as the new Commissaire.

Glove-puppet

All audiences

Duranty Louis Émile Edmond

Witty man

Trade

Revenge

Discord

Scruples

Swiss

Beggar

Cassandre

Apothecary

Constable

Police Superintendant

Herald

Plot twist

Le Marchand de coups de bâton

Merchant of blows-with-a-stick

Unable to sleep, Casperl complains about his lot in life and even says that he is ready to appeal to the spirits, following the example of Faust, when a headless ghost appears in front of him. The ghost asks him to save him from hell by performing the necessary rites at midnight at the gallows. In exchange, Casperl will get hold of the treasure that the ghost buried at this location when he was still a bandit. The next day, Casperl, who has forgotten the ritual words, asks the witch Moosmayerin to help him: she gives him Holofernes’ magical belt. In the next scene, Casperl has become rich, but he considers that the money shouldn’t be used to pay his debts and he sends his creditors away with injurious words. When a police officer comes to arrest him, he manages to lock the police officer inside his house and goes to the tavern. When he returns to his place, he discovers that the police officer has hung himself by accident with the rope with which he tried to slip away. Casperl is thrown in prison, but he is freed by the ghost, who tells him that the police officer has not died and that he has resumed his work.

Beer

Night

Melancholy

Spirits

Robber

Scaffold

Sorcery

People and history

Coffee

Market

Scatology

Debt

Tavern

Perlike

Romanticism

Schicksalsdrama in vier Aufzügen

Mrs Kasperl

Tailor

Police officer

Shoemaker

Chimney sweeper

Word for another

Metatheatre

Thunderbolt

Animated natural element

Disguise

Macaronism

Transforming scenery

Board

Instrumental tune

Casperl wird reich

Casperl gets rich

Casperl inherits money from his neighbor Frau Bas, who recently died: it's a fortune. He passes a miserable evening, tormented by the idea that people are plotting to steal his money. He even cries out about a fire. The next day, Grethel buys the latest style of toilet, hires a cook… Casperl goes out to drink at the tavern with his friend, the hunter Tomerl. However, when he returns, the notary Stahlfeder is there to announce to the cleaners that Madame Casperl's purchases and the settling of debts with the tavern have exhausted the fortune of Frau Bas—there is nearly nothing left. Casperl throws out the notary and police chief Schnuffler, who came with a fine for nighttime disturbances. He then scarfs down a plate of Knödel that his cook prepared while declaring that he doesn't need money as long as he keeps his good spirits.

Le Tombeau des imposteurs et l'Inauguration du Temple de la Vérité

Polichinell

La Tontonmanie

Doctor Sassafras

oder Doctor, Tod und Teufel

Le Marchand de coups de bâton

Casperl wird reich

Schicksalsdrama in vier Aufzügen

Die Erbschaft

Zwischenspiel in zwei Abteilungen

L'Enfant prodigue

Scènes bibliques en 7 tableaux

Le stravaganze di Facanapa

The Painter and the Three Magics