In the Prologue, Sole (the Sun) and Amore (Eros) compete over Giasone (Jason), to settle which woman, Isifile (Hypsipyle) or Medea, he will love. In Colchis, Giasone forgets himself in Medea’s company. His friend Ercole (Hercules) reproaches him for his lack of heroic diligence. Indeed, the hero left his first wife, Isifile (queen of Lemnos), to find the Golden Fleece, and he declares his love to his new mistress. As for Medea, she dismisses Egeo (Aegeus), whose love bothers her. Oreste (Orestes) came to inquire about Giasone on behalf of Isifile; he meets the stammerer Demo, who challenges him to a duel and then begs to be his friend, while still imploring him to let himself be beaten because it would make Oreste happy. Medea plays with Giasone and makes him believe that she wants him to marry Delfa, then she declares her love to him, causing bitterness on the nurse Delfa’s part. While Isifile laments the loss of her husband, Medea wards off the spirits to ensure Giasone’s success in his quest for the Fleece. Oreste learns about Giasone’s love for Medea and goes to tell Isifile, whom he finds asleep, dreaming about her husband’s return: he takes advantage of the situation and steals a few kisses from her. When she wakes up, he tells her about Giasone’s betrayal. She orders him to have Giasone killed. Giasone struggles in the Labyrinth, as part of his quest for the Fleece; then he sails to Corinth, with Medea. A love affair develops between Oreste and Alinda, Isifile’s companion. Egeo learns of the lovers’ flight from Demo and decides to follow them. When their ship sinks, Demo believes that he is dead and in a whale’s stomach. Another love affair begins between Alinda and Besso. Oreste tells Giasone that Isifile is looking for him. Giasone tries to distance Medea, who wants to meet her rival, by explaining to her that she is a visionary. Isifile walks in on the romantic duo, interrupting them. To get rid of her, Giasone promises her his love, and he arranges for them to meet in an inn. He gives in to her request for a kiss, as a token of his honesty. Once again, a romantic duo is interrupted: it is Medea’s turn to walk in on Giasone and Isifile. To pacify her, Giasone asks her to meet him too, and promises that Besso will have Isifile killed. To Besso, Giasone demands that the first person to appear be thrown into the sea, no matter if they are man or woman. Egeo, dressed up as a seaman, meets Demo who, still convinced to be dead, mistakes him for a spirit. Suspicious, Medea appears before Besso: captured by Giasone’ soldiers, she believes that her lover has betrayed her. When Isifile arrives, Besso sends her away. Thrown into the water, Medea is rescued by Egeo; she entrusts him with her revenge. Giasone, convinced that Besso carried out his mission, tries to fall asleep, and he dreams of the ghosts of the two women. Egeo tries to kill him, but Isifile prevents him from doing so. She is wrongly accused of the attempted murder, and Egeo runs away. While Besso announces Medea’s death, the latter appears and reveals the whole plot. Then, Egeo’s testimony clears up the situation. Isifile wants to kill herself out of romantic disappointment, but the depth of her feelings wins Giasone back. Everyone, including Medea, can now rejoice.

Not specified

Acciaiuoli Filippo (aka Gran Burattinajo)

Apolloni Giovanni Filippo

Italy

Rome

Printed

Greek mythology

Golden Fleece

Love

Jealousy

Shipwreck

Unfaithfulness

Magic

Heroic

Melodramatic

Fantasy

Comical

Il Novello Giasone, 1671 (front cover)

Italian

Jason

Hercules

Confident

Queen

Hypsipyle

Oreste

Lady

Medea

Nurse

King

Aegeus

Servant

Satyre

Spirit

Choir

Argonauts

Soldier

Sailor

Sung play

Love story

Play in verse

Prologue

Cross-dressing

Character mistaken as a member of the other sex

Sword fight

Comic stuttering

Prayer

Magic spell

Apparition of demons

Account of a dream

Monologue

Night scene

Interlude

Apparition of a god

Ballet

Flying machine

Stone throwing

Flying character

Equivocation

Off-stage scream

Off-stage noise

Il Novello Giasone

The New Jason

The Roi des Pygmées (Pygmy King) worries about the coming of the Grues and the potential disorder his daughter will cause among the generals of his army. In remembrance of her fiancé Timas, who is presumed dead, Parvulie refuses to marry Picolus. As for Pichonine, she is courted by both Picolus and Belus. The king decides to offer Pichonine to whoever defeats the Grues. Ominous signs arise after a sacrifice, and the king asks Sémiandre and Homoncius to speak with the Ciel (sky/gods). Pichonine confesses to Parvulie that she loves Belus. The envoys pass on Mars’ promise to help them in their battle against the Grues. Timas finally comes back and traps the Grues in nets: the Pygmies have won, and the king is about to promise Pichonine to Picolus – who claims to be the victorious hero. Microton declares that Belus has died, when it is in fact Picolus who did, when he was about to kill his rival Belus. Belus and Timas come back and are greeted as the true champions. Pichonine believes she will have to marry Picolus, instead of Belus. Mercure (Mercury), Soleil (the sun), Mars and Jupiter appear one after the other. Vignerons (winegrowers) and Bergers (shepherds) dance.

La Grille (Dominique de Normandin, aka Sieur de La Grille)

France

Paris

Printed summary

Pygmies

Relationship between man and animal

Fake news

Loyalty in love

Rivalry in love

Tragic

Title page of the original publication (BnF, Paris).

French

Officer

Crane (bird)

Mercury

Mars

Jupiter (Jove)

Winemaker

Misunderstanding

Apparition

Les Pygmées

The Pygmy

Polichinelle tells the Compère the story how he became Pluton (Pluto)’s coachman. He helps the latter capture Proserpine. Her mother – Cérès (Ceres) – protests, but Jupiter declares that Proserpine will be handed back to Ceres on condition that she does not eat or drink anything in the Underworld. Polichinelle testifies that he has seen Proserpine eat “way more than just a pear”. Jupiter therefore rules that Pluton can keep her.

Rod and string marionette

Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Mother-daughter relationship

Hell

Judgment of God

Kidnapping

Devil

Horse

Coachman

Glory

Carriage

Minuet

Parodistic

Farcical

Polichinelle

The Interpreter

Pluto

Faun

Proserpina

Pallas

Ceres

Bawdy equivocation

Comic equivocation

Instrumental tune

Dialogue with a character in the audience

L'Enlèvement de Proserpine par Pluton roi des Enfers

The Abduction of Prosperpine by Pluton king of the Underworld

Arlequin-Deucalion is the only survivor of the Flood ordered by the gods. Taking refuge on Parnassus, he hears the voice of a parrot and meets the Muses Thalia and Melpomene, Apollo and his wife Pyrrha, who have all become mute. He tries to ride Pegasus, but fails. Out of a barrel, he pulls several papers, a pair of pistols, and then Momus in the form of a Polichinelle puppet who is the only one allowed talking to him. Polichinelle-Momus explains to Arlequin-Deucalion how to repopulate the earth, and then asks him to throw him into the sea. Arlequin-Deucalion and Pyrrha make 5 men and 4 women appear.

Glove-puppet

Piron Alexis

Flood

Arlecchino

Deucalion

Thalie

Melpomene

Apollo

Momus

Pegasus

Child

Sylph

Grâce

Speechless character

Catastrophe

Oracle

Swazzle

Arlequin-Deucalion

Momus wakes up the Olympian Gods. After quarrelling several times and playing a few games, Jupiter promises that he will find him a wife; but the gods must flee the Giants, who have attacked them. Jupiter and Momus arrive incognito among humans who come to them complaining about their lot. Silène’s (Silenus’) donkey drives the Giants away. After going back to Olympus, Jupiter suggests that Momus marries Diane (Diana), Melpomène (Melpomene), Thalie (Thalia), and then the Foire (Fair).

Giant

Wedding

Scatology

Game of guessed professions

Competition of theaters

Comédie Française

Comédie-Italienne

Theaters of the Parisian fairs

La Vengeance de Tirésias (Tiresias' Revenge)

ou la Gigantomachie

Juno

Morpheus

Minerva

Venus

Husband

Merchant (man)

Poet

Wise man

Silenus

Priest

Fair

Allegory

Metamorphosis

Comical regional accent

Le Mariage de Momus

Momus' Marriage

Atys (Attis) tells his cousin Sangaride that she is going to marry the prince Célénus (Celænus); then they both confess their love for each other. Having fallen in love with Atys, the goddess Cybèle (Cybele) declares her love to him in a dream. Believing that Atys is unfaithful, Sangaride agrees to marry Célénus. Atys opposes the marriage and flees with Sangaride. To punish Atys, Cybèle commands Esculape (Asclepius) and his apothecaries to drive him insane. Blinded by madness, Atys kills Sangaride. When he realises his crime, Atys begs Cybèle to bring Sangaride back to life, which she does, but changing the young woman into a hen, and Atys into a capon.

Fuzelier Louis

Opera

Revenge

Death

Death resurrected

Capon

Grandparents

Ovid

La Grand-Mère amoureuse, frontispiece in Le Théâtre de la Foire ou l'Opéra comique, tome VIII, 1731.

Parodie d'Atys

Attis

Sangaride

Idas

Cybele

Rhea

Phrygian (man)

River

God of Sleep

Dreams

Asclepius

Apothecary

Phrygian (woman)

Tributaries

Stream

Love rivalry

Sung scenes

Dream

Final song

La Grand-Mère amoureuse

The Grand-Mother in love

Polichinelle wants to be loved while he is dressed as the shepherd Philemon, but is rejected by Issé. Doris accepts Pan's love for a while. Hylas is in turn rejected by Issé. Issé questions the oracle of the oaks of Dodona who tells her that she will fall in love with the god of light. Issé refuses because she prefers Polichinelle. Polichinelle reveals himself to her as Apollo.

Il Novello Giasone

Les Pygmées

L'Enlèvement de Proserpine par Pluton roi des Enfers

Arlequin-Deucalion

Le Mariage de Momus

ou la Gigantomachie

La Grand-Mère amoureuse

Parodie d'Atys

Apollon Polichinelle

Critique de Didon tragédie

Alceste

Der Staupbesen

Eine dramatsche Fantasei