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

Not specified

Albert-Birot Pierre

France

Paris

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

Resurrection

Laughter

Comical

Lyrical

Philosophical tale

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

French

Matoum

Tévibar

Wise man

Fiancé

Fiancée

Husband

Virgin

Singer

Cook

Sommelier

Tailor

Bootmaker

Architect

Eunuch

General director

Dancer

Passer-by

Address to the public

Double characters

Metamorphosis

Glory

Entering with vehicle

Dance

Aria

Matoum en Matoumoisie

Matoum in Matoumoisie

Tévibar kills Madelon, the Gendarme (Policeman), Polichinelle, Gnafron, Nicolas, Guignol and the Devil successively. He wants to destroy a tree which resists him. Matoum appears, revives everyone and kills Tévibar.

Murder

Fantasy

Letter from Gaston Cony to Pierre Albert-Birot, with a sketch of the inflatable head for Matoum, 1921