M. Prudhomme goes to the casino with the intention of winning back the dowry of his daughter Vénuska from a hundred sous note that dates back to Louis Philippe’s time. He pretends to have come up with his own foolproof system. When he arrives, he encounters the comedian Lesueur (literally, The-Sweat), a regular of the casino, who says that he adopted all sorts of superstitions to have luck on his side. However, he admits that the day before, luck turned its back on him after he forgot to put a bean in his pocket as a lucky-charm. Later, Lesueur comes back victorious: he finally won! M. Prudhomme advises him to stop here, but Lesueur decides to trade his bean for the leaf of an artichoke, hoping to extend his winning streak. We learn that M. Prudhomme also has some “assets”: he came with Madame Benoiton who is known to always play the number 22 and to win every time. However, she is absent at this very moment. Shortly after, Lesueur comes back disappointed: the artichoke leaf did not bring him luck and he lost everything. Discouraged, he decides to find comfort in a glass of absinthe. M. Prudhomme finally tests his system and comes back victorious after having won twenty thousand francs for his daughter’s dowry. When questioned about the secret of his system, he maliciously addresses the audience and says that they will have to come back in a year to find out.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Lemercier de Neuville Louis

France

Principality of Monaco

Printed

Casino

Luck

Money

Game of chance

Bourgeoisie

Comical

Satirical

Lemercier de Neuville, illustration for Le Système de M. Prudhomme, 1868.

French

Monsieur Prudhomme

Actor

Off-stage voice

Monologue

Address to the public

Situation comedy

Le Système de M. Prudhomme

M. Prudhomme’s system

The play is set in Cannes in 1871. Madame Palmer, her daughter Miss Kate (both Americans), Monsieur Balandard and his nephew Arthur, a young painter, are staying in a hotel. The young painter is in love with Miss Kate and paints her portrait. However, Miss Kate does not recognise herself in the painting and suggests, in Arthur’s face, that he find a “real” job. The young man is hurt: he draws a caricature of Miss Kate’s silhouette and complains to his uncle – Monsieur Balandard. Meanwhile, Madame Palmer organises an occult ritual with her daughter to find out the name of the daughter’s future husband. Cléophée, Madame Palmer’s occult “friend”, writes the name “Bal…”. From that moment on, Madame Palmer tries to arrange a marriage between her daughter and Monsieur Balandard. However, the uncle decides to help his nephew. To do so, he organises a fake occult ritual and hides Arthur inside a speaking bubble. In the end, the farce is revealed and faith in occultism is shattered.