Momus, the god of mockery, arrives on Pegasus’s back at the grave of the puppeteer Brioché. Jupiter gave him the power to resuscitate the dead, and he chose Brioché, who thus comes back to life; Momus instructs him to open a theatre. Polichinelle comes out of an old tree; then Pierrot and Arlequin appear. The latter asks Momus to also bring Colombine back to life; she is followed by Beau Léandre, Isabelle and Cassandre. After lauding the puppets, they try to decide on the repertoire they will put on and they introduce the troupe of actors that will perform the pantomimes.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Martainville Alphonse

France

Paris

Death

Resurrection

Cemetery

Laughter

Commedia dell'arte

Past

Comical

Satirical

Martainville, La Résurrection de Brioché, 1810 (title page)

French

Momus

Brioché

Polichinelle

Pierrot

Arlecchino

Colombine

Isabelle

Léandre

Cassandre

Flying machine

Aria

Apparition

Metamorphosis

Lazzi

Metadiscourse on puppet theatre

Criticism of actors' theatre

La Résurrection de Brioché

Brioché's Resurrection

Polichinelle, a “broken old man” with a beard and white hair, enters the scene followed by some Gamins (Kids) making fun of him. The Génie de la Fontaine Molière (the Fontaine Molière Genie) appears, chases away the Gamins and comforts Polichinelle: he complains about his old age and relates his past achievements in Italy, Germany, England and France. They are both sorry for the death of writer Charles Nodier (1780-1844), who had praised Polichinelle. The Génie makes the statue of Molière that ornates the fountain appear, and he tells Polichinelle to drink from the fountain. Polichinelle obeys and immediately rejuvenates. Arlequin, Colombine, Pierrot, Léandre and Cassandre appear with the cast of a ballet who invites Polichinelle to join everyone and dance.

Manuscript

Old age

Aging

Fantasy

Didactic

La Fontaine de jouvence, page from the manuscript

Genie

Child

Personnages de l'ancienne Comédie Italienne

Dancer

Multi-voice shouting

Play in verse

Avista

Change of age

Ballet

La Fontaine de jouvence

The Fountain of Youth

Young candidates for marriage are swallowed whole by the Trou du Mariage (the Marriage Hole). Tévibar, who was swallowed, manages to come back out of the Hole. The Grand Sage Matoumoisien (The Great Wise Matoumasian) lets him know that this Hole makes the fake, the ugly, and the bad disappear; and because he was not swallowed, he might be the one who has come to forgive everyone and put an end to the threat of the Hole. Tévibar introduces himself to the assembly of the Grands Sages (the Great Wise Men) pretending to be who they expect him to be: Matoum. However, he has to accomplish three miracles and overcome the trial of the Trou de Justice (Hole of Justice). Tévibar makes the Grands Sages believe that he has overcome the first two miracles and then knocks them all out. He becomes a tyrant to all the people of Matoumoisie but ends up having to pass the trial of the Trou de Justice - it swallows him whole as he confesses to his deception. Matoum arrives to accomplish all the expected miracles. He transforms Matoumoisie, spreading joy and reconciliation but Tévibar stabs him. When the time comes to bury Matoum, his coffin is empty. Everybody bursts out laughing.

Glove-puppet

String marionette

Shadow theatre

Albert-Birot Pierre

Printed

Donkey

Wedding

Prophecy

Announcement of a messiah

Impostor

Levitation

Virgin mother of a child

Play on words

Cephalophoria

Racing car

Ugliness

Childbirth

Miracle

Decollation

Forgiveness

Reconciliation

Lyrical

Philosophical tale

Serge Férat, suggestion of scenery for Matoum en Matoumoisie, 1937