Punch informs Master (the stage director) that part of his company is rebelling against him even though he got rid of all competition and has been in the spotlight for the past 20 years. A lieutenant colonel meets with him; his colonel now dead, he wants to be appointed head of his regiment. Punch refuses and contemptuously reminds him that he has no seat in Parliament. He then offers the regiment to a duke who had wanted to be part of the military. He then grants a series of privileges to his peers.
Puppet Lawn, who tried to influence the inhabitants of his village to vote for Punch, ends up being scammed by the latter through a fake investment. The reservists under Punch’s supervision are on the verge of insurrection. Puppet Y- advises him to go on site. On the contrary, Punch prepares to leave the government and makes sure he can store his belongings somewhere safe.
Captain Caledon, Mr English and Mr Worcester are plotting to pressure Punch into resigning. Nonetheless, they suspect him to be preparing a comeback in politics. Punch resigns. An epilogue underlines the reality of the events that have been staged, and pre-empts criticism: the play does not follow the rules of puppet theatre because Punch is not punished by the devil but the author points out that he probably will be.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Great Britain

London

Printed

Conspiracy

Politics

Manipulation

Satirical

Politicks in Miniature, 1742. (Title page).

English

The State Puppet-Show: called the Humours of Punch's Resignation.

Or, the Humours of Punch's Resignation

Public announcement

Allusion to current political events

Plot scene

Comical foreign accent

Epilogue

Politicks in Miniature

Nigot (Simpleton), M. Pigetout (literally, Mr Understands-Everything) and M. Machin (Mr Thing) are having lunch together and waiting for M. X…, the author who is supposed to bring the manuscript. However, when M. X… arrives, he is forbidden to enter. Later, M. Forfrais [play on words between “forfait” (flat rate) and “frais” (cost/fee)] , the treasurer, and M. Machin, director of the theatre, have a meeting during which they count the money they made from the performances. M. Machin needs a great sum of money to stage the performance with the leading actor M. Chose (Mr Stuff). Shortly after, M. Chose arrives and asks M. Forfrais for ten thousand francs; the latter tells him that the performance he was hired for has been cancelled and offers to buy his royalties. Then, M. X… visits M. Forfrais and asks for an advance on his royalties. M. Forfrais also suggests for him to drop his share of royalties and tickets for a hundred francs. The young author signs the agreement. M. Chose wishes to modify the play so that his character is constantly on stage; M. Pigetout decides to write to M. X… and asks him to rewrite the play. The play is very successful, but when M. Chose mentions the producers of the performance, he omits the author, who was not even able to see the performance.

Glove-puppet

Lemercier de Neuville Louis

France

Paris

Meals

Playwright

Stardom

Show

Money

Theatre

Comical

Lemercier de Neuville, I Pupazzi. Front cover of the first edition, 1866.

French

Director of the theatre

Author

Artist

Technician

Treasurer

Actor

Servant

Child

Passer-by

Audience

Situation comedy

Theatre within the theatre

Current affairs

Aside

Criticism of actors' theatre

Address to the public

Le Vrai Bonhomme

The Real Man

A thief robs all the clients of a restaurant by hypnotising them. While driving a car, he empties three shop fronts and then electrocutes the police officers following him, all thanks to magnets. After a new burglary, he escapes thanks to a tram and a lift that gets him up into the sky.