Polichinelle has enlisted as a soldier for six years. After arriving at the camp of the French army, outside Kehl, he is frightened and wants to go back to Paris. Sentenced to be hanged for deserting, he is pardoned because the garrison of the fortress has just surrendered.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Carolet Denis

France

Paris

Printed

Army

Deserter

Fear

Death penalty

Antimilitarism

Comical

Manuscrit of La Prise du fort de Kehl (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms. fr. 9294)

French

Polichinelle

Sergeant

Drum

Trumpet (military man/woman)

General

Judge

Hanging scene

Final song

La Prise du fort de Kehl

The Capture of the fortress of Kehl

Alvarès makes his son Guzman a bailiff and promises that he will marry Alzire. Alvarès convinces Alzire’s father, Monteze, to have her marry Guzman. Alzire believes that her fiancé Zamore is dead, but he is released from prison. When he learns that Alzire will marry Guzman, Zamore tries to kill him and thinks that he has succeeded. Zamore and Alvire, who is thought to be his accomplice, are sentenced to death. Just when Zamore is about to be hanged, Guzman appears, wounded. He forgives Zamore and lets him marry Alzire.

Manuscript with songs and dialogue summaries

Latin America

Forgiveness

Jail

Murder

Bailiff

Indigenous people

Obedience

Forced marriage

Parodistic

La Fille obéissante, manuscript Collection Soleinne (Ms FF 9313), Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Parodie d'Alzire

Mother Gigogne

Waiter

Guard

Spectacular turn of events

Tragic conflict

Fake death

La Fille obéissante

The obedient Daughter

Pulcinella is in love with Colombina, but her brother – Coviello – opposes their marriage. The two men fight by striking each other with a stick then with two long swords. Colombina laments her brother’s death but keeps on loving Pulcinella. But Pulcinella also kills Capural Fasulo (Corporal Bean) – a soldier who asked him to explain his murder. He is then arrested by two policemen, sentenced to death and hanged.

Glove-puppet

All audiences

Italy

Naples

Printed summary

Love

Patriarchy (sociology)

Brother

Dramatic

Le bagattelle, illustration from the article "I teatri. Gli spettacoli popolari - le bagattelle" published in 1853