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

Not specified

France

Paris

Manuscript

Magic

Wealth

Farce

Impostor

Love

Comical

Farcical

French

Cassandra

Arlecchino

Pierrot

Suitor

Merchant (man)

Colombine

Nurse

Chorus

Sung scenes

Off-stage voice

Aside

Object coming to life

Disguised character (false identity)

Situation comedy

La Tontonmanie

The Tontonmanie

The Roi and the Reine de Mars (King and Queen of Mars) wait for the arrival of a prodigious being, Matoum, but he is preceded by his doppelganger, the impostor Tévibar. While the poems told by Matoum bring light and colour to the planet, those delivered by Tévibar prompt melancholy and gloominess. During the sparring match between the two poets, Tévibar makes the Reine faint and the Roi die, but Matoum brings them back to life before flying to Earth to take part in the war.

Glove-puppet

Albert-Birot Pierre

Italy

Rome

Printed

Science fiction

Poetry

Mars Planet

Vanguard

Seduction

Unwelcome seducer

Fainting

Miraculous cure

Resurrection

Ascension

Futurism

Fantasy

Satirical

Pierre Albert-Birot, Matoum et Tévibar, edition SIC, 1919 (cover)

or the enlightening and recreational Story of the true and fake poet

Prologue

Address to the public

Sticking

Interrupting

Misunderstanding

Song

Transforming scenery

Light effects

Blow-with-a-stick

Fight

Metamorphosis

Matoum et Tévibar

Matoum and Tévibar

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.

Shadow theatre

Donkey

Wedding

Prophecy

Announcement of a messiah

Levitation

Virgin mother of a child

Play on words

Cephalophoria

Racing car

Ugliness

Childbirth

Miracle

Decollation

Forgiveness

Reconciliation

Laughter

Lyrical

Philosophical tale

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