Two rats, Monsieur le Rat Deschamps (literally, Mister the Rat From-the-countryside), an elector, and Monsieur le Rat Deville (literally, Mister the Rat From-the-city) - candidate in the election, attend a dinner party organised to secure votes. Deschamps questions Deville on a number of subjects, and especially on his oratorical skills. Deville admits to not being a real orator; he reveals that he only knows how to imitate the voice of others and immediately illustrates his abilities. However, Deschamps questions his honesty and declares: “Ayant trop de voix, vous n’aurez pas la mienne” (“You have too many voices, you will not have mine”; in French, “voix” means both “voices” and “vote”). Deville does not despair and, addressing the audience, asks for support.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Lemercier de Neuville Louis

France

Paris

Vichy

Printed

Elections

Corruption

Dinner

Meals

Comical

Satirical

Lemercier de Neuville, Les Deux Rats, 1866.

French

Member of parliament

Elector

Play in verse

Aside

Aria

Character represented in animal form

Imitation

Address to the public

Instrumental tune

Allusion to current political events

Les Deux rats

The Two Rats

In Trépagny-les-Mèches, Piquendaire, the innkeeper, displays his support for the candidate Manandar, and despises his rival Tringlet, whom he describes as a « radical, labourer ». At the same time, the street performer Conquenbois, dressed as Hercules, gives a street performance with his assistant Eloa. After their performance, Piquendaire gets ready to welcome Manandar in his hotel, but gets confused and welcomes Balandard instead, accompanied by Ida and Céleste. Settled in the hotel, Balandard meets Coquenbois and Eloa, and invites them to dinner. Piquendaire, convinced that he is destined for a prestigious job, is in charge of bringing a candidate to an important dinner. During the reception, Balandard is invited to give a speech, but he confesses that he is not Manandar. However, the guests do not realise their mistake. Finally, Balandard introduces the « real » candidate: Coquenbois. Tringlet recognises the street performer immediately, but Coquenbois challenges him to a duel and is victorious, thus becoming the favourite in the elections.

Maurice Sand (Maurice Sand)

Nohant

Politics

Artiste

Fighting

Eugène Lambert, George Sand, Maurice Sand : puppet of Coquenbois.

Le Candidat

Director of the theatre

Balandard

Street performer

Innkeeper

Worker

Domestic servant

Actor

General director

Mayor

Constable

Fireman

Actress

Lady

Maid

Counselor

Citizen

Musician

Brawl

Misunderstanding

Situation comedy

Comedy of language

Monologue

Comic speech

Theatre within the theatre

Le Candidat de Trépagny

The Candidate from Trépagny