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.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Fuzelier Louis

France

Paris

Printed

Opera

Love

Wedding

Jealousy

Revenge

Death

Death resurrected

Greek mythology

Capon

Grandparents

Ovid

Parodistic

Comical

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

French

Parodie d'Atys

Attis

Sangaride

Idas

Cybele

Rhea

Phrygian (man)

Priest

River

God of Sleep

Morpheus

Dreams

Asclepius

Apothecary

Phrygian (woman)

Tributaries

Stream

Instrumental tune

Metamorphosis

Love rivalry

Flying machine

Sung scenes

Dream

Final song

La Grand-Mère amoureuse

The Grand-Mother in love

Admeto (Admetus), ill and dying, goes to see the oracle of Giove (Jupiter) in order to learn how to stay alive: he can only survive if someone dies in his stead. His wife Alceste (Alcestis) is the only one who accepts to die for him. Ercole (Heracles) asks for the hospitality of the court of Admeto, and there he narrates his labours. He promises his host that he will bring Alceste back from the underworld. Accompanied by the servant Faggiolino, Ercole descends to the underworld, where he kills several antagonists, and asks Plutone (Pluto) to bring Alceste back to life. Because Plutone refuses, Ercole kidnaps Alceste. Back on Earth, Ercole, Faggiolino and Alceste are welcomed with a sumptuous feast, and Faggiolino is promoted Great of the court.

Glove-puppet

Cuccoli Angelo

Italy

Bologna

Handwritten summary

Sacrifice

Descent into hell

Heroic

Fantasy

Italian

con Faggiolino spaventato dai mostri infernali

King

Admetus

Queen

Alcestis

Prince

Héraklès

Proteus

Fagiolino

Servant

Pluto

Proserpina

Charon

Cerberus

Oracle

Prayer

Pyrotechnics

Fighting a monster

Change of social status

Ercole all'Inferno

Hercules in the Underworld

Monsieur Durand owns a factory and is looking for someone to replace him while he leaves on holidays. He offers the position to Guignol. Because his factory produces blows with a stick, he starts hitting Guignol. Guignol grabs the stick--it is his turn to hit Monsieur Durand, whom he leaves for dead. The Gendarme (policeman) comes in. He tries to seduce Madelon. When he discovers Monsieur Durand’s body, he wants to capture the murderer. Madelon succeeds in making him leave, and she brings Monsieur Durand back to life. The Gendarme comes back but he is driven out once and for all. Monsieur Durand gives Guignol the job.

La Grand-Mère amoureuse

Parodie d'Atys

Ercole all'Inferno

con Faggiolino spaventato dai mostri infernali

Guignol veut s'enrichir

Guignolade en un acte