Gnafron and Cadet, unable to pay six francs for a meal, decide to invite Guignol and his wife so that the two of them will pay for them. Guignol claims that he could get a better dinner for less money. Gnafron and Cadet accept the bet. Guignol goes to his neighbour Cassandre, who has become rich by organising emigrants' passage to California. Guignol asks him how much a yellow object, as long as an arm and covered with punches, might be worth. Cassandre, convinced that it is a gold ingot and that he will be able to get it from Guignol, invites him to dinner. Guignol eats until he can no longer walk. When it comes time to show the ingot, he admits that he does not have it. Gnafron arrives with Madelon, Guignol's wife, and beats Guignol for eating so much on his own. Guignol fights with her, which helps him digest, and Gnafron reconciles them by offering coffee and promising a good dinner for the four of them the next day.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Vuillerme-Dunand Victor-Napoléon

France

Lyon

Manuscript

Meals

Invitation

Money

Deception

Cipidity

Glutton

Comical

Farcical

French

Gnafron

Cadet

Guignol

Cassandre

Rich

Aside

Situation comedy

Argument

Blow-with-a-stick

Le Lingot d'or ou l'art de faire un bon dîner

The Gold Ingot, or how to have a good dinner

In Paris, every Monday, the countess of Valtreuse welcomes her guests. The servants, Javotte, Lebrancho, and Baptiste, go on strike and demand a raise. Madame de Saint-Rémy takes advantage of a door left open, and visits the countess to offer her a money match for her daughter Marguerite, as well as the services of her servant to organize a reception in honor of the future groom. The same day, Balandard, a nobleman, and Parasol, Madame de Saint-Rémy’s servant, both arrive. The countess gets them mixed up, believes that Parasol is an aristocrat, and introduces him as her future son-in-law. Balandard gets caught up in this game and does the tasks of a servant. The solicitor arrives, and wants to sign the prenuptial contract between Marguerite and Parasol ; the latter unsuccessfully tries to clarify the whole situation. Madame de Saint Rémy arrives and the truth is revealed. The evening gets out of hand with the intervention of Baptiste and of the superintendent.

Maurice Sand (Maurice Sand)

Nohant

Printed

Servant

Strike

Marrying for money

Misunderstanding

Satirical

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

Le Célibataire

Noble

Balandard

Domestic servant

Valet de chambre

Guests

Notary

Police Superintendant

Coachman

Member of parliament

Lord

Musician

Countess

Daughter

Police officer

Aria

Comedy of language

Word warping

Change of social status

Monologue

Le Lundi de la comtesse

The Monday of the Countess

Théophile Hippolyte Sébastien Lacroix visits Marianne Larue and suggests different outings that she declines without exception, with a simple “noa” (nan-an). After Théodore’s departure, Marianne keeps answering this to all outside noises, even when the curtain goes down and the theater lights go off. Marianne’s shape can still be seen through the partly transparent curtain, while it grows excessively. The play ends with a young man’s ironic and “coarse” whistle.

Le Lingot d'or ou l'art de faire un bon dîner

Le Lundi de la comtesse

Noa

Une conversation marionnettique en style "snap-shot"