The play is set during the annual Saint-Cloud fair, in the big alley where the fairground theatres are gathered. Cassandre, Paillasse and Jeannot, whom Arlequin meet, rejoice at the news of the return of Mère Gigogne – a well-known figure at the fair, who has what it takes to bring back the joyfulness needed for its success. Paillasse and Jeannot parade to attract people to the stall to see a show about a giant cockchafer and trained stink bugs. Arlequin comes up to a young girl, Jeunesse (Youth), and promises to buy her a reed flute and gingerbread. The audience leave the stall, furious about having been misled, since the show never began. Mère Gigogne, followed by a large procession, appears and dances, giving birth to many children. She blesses the marriage between Arlequin and Jeunesse. The show ends with a sung vaudeville.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

France

Paris

Fairground

Birth

Love

Show

Monster

Animal savant

Comical

Pierre-Louis Belfort-Devaux, La Foire de Saint-Cloud, 1853.

French

Cassandra

Arlecchino

People

Aria

Final song

Oration

Childbirth on stage

Dance

La Foire de Saint-Cloud

The Saint-Cloud Fair

Zechariah prays to God for a son. The Archangel Gabriel appears and announces that his wish is granted, but Zachariah does not believe him. Because of his disbelief, the Angel strikes him mute. When Zechariah comes back home, his wife Elizabeth announces that their son is born. Meanwhile, Marie rejects Joseph’s marriage proposal. The Archangel Gabriel appears before her and announces the birth of her cousin Elizabeth’s son. Marie must have a son too. She must accept Joseph’s proposal and, after visiting her cousin, go to Bethlehem with her husband. Marie obeys. Three Magi present themselves at Herod’s court. They have heard that the king of the Jews is born and are looking for him to bring him presents. Herod did not know about his being born. As soon at the Magi leave, he orders that the child be found and killed. In the stable, the Shepherds join the Angel in a song to rejoice about the birth of the Saviour. The Magi offer their presents to the infant Jesus. The Angel warns them about Herod’s order and asks them to go back home by a different route. As the Magi do not come back, Herod orders that all the children under two be killed. Later, the Angel tells Marie and Joseph that they can go back to Judea because Herod has died.

Single rod marionettes

Belgium

Liège

Manuscript

Prayer

Annunciation

The Massacre of the Innocents

Crib

Dramatic

Religious

Pierre-Paul Pinet, Li Naissance, first page of the manuscript.

Gabriel

Virgin Mary

Shepherd

Wise Men (Biblical Magi)

Herod

Priest

Apparition of an angel

Song

Speechless character

Massacre scene

Li Naissance

The Birth

In a country at war, a child soldier has managed to escape a military camp. She now goes to school. As she speaks with her teacher, Ismé’s past comes back to her in flashback. We learn about her past as a girl soldier, as well as the past of the children she fought with – more particularly that of Menka, who, after having been raped and having lost her first child, asked Ismé to take care of her second child.

Giant marionette

Saint-Christoly de Blaye

Blaye

Printed

Child soldier

Childhood

Rape

Religion

School

Motherhood

Teenager

Baby

Compartmented stage

Analepsis (Flash-back)

Off-stage voice

Address to the public

Monologue

Ismé, l'enfant-soldat

Ismé, the child-soldier

Joseph is in love with Mary, but she rejects his clumsy advances. Tchantchès tries in vain to help Joseph. The archangel Gabriel appears to Mary and asks her to go back on her decision. He announces that she will have son and that she will have to call him Jesus. Then Gabriel appears to Joseph and reassures him: he will not be rejected this time. Mary and Joseph leave together for Bethlehem. The journey is a long one, the due date is approaching, and Joseph is looking for a place to rest. Pierre (Peter), the owner of a restaurant, offers them to stay in the old stable behind his establishment. They gladly accept. Three Magi present themselves at Herod’s court: they have heard that the King of the Jews is born and are looking to bring him gifts. Jesus is born in the stable. Tchantchès and Nanesse congratulate the parents. The Magi bring him their presents. Later, Joseph learns about the emperor’s order – all the children under two will be killed. He is scared, but Tchantchès promises to help him. While Joseph and Mary are getting ready to flee, Tchantchès fights the knight who has come to kill Jesus and triumphs over him. Joseph and Marie leave for Egypt with their son.

Rod marionette

Young audiences

Typed or electronic text with handwritten annotations

Nativity

Visitation Festival

Musician

Joseph

Tchantchès

Nanesse

Knight

Innkeeper

Offstage

Fight

Character thrown out of the scene

"Li Naissance" en musique!

"Li Naissance" set to music!

A man comes on stage, crushed under the massive pillow he is carrying. He opens it and takes out heaps of fibre - orange, then blue, grey, etc. He scatters them around him until they cover the stage. The man is enthralled by all this matter and speaks to it, telling it about life in general. Little by little, he becomes lost in it.