Janbroche – a cloth merchant – forbids his daughter from selling anything while she keeps the shop in his absence. To all questions, she will have to answer “really, Mister, nay”. Polichinelle, sent by his master the Marquis to place an order for a suit, takes advantage of this repeated response to take her to bed with him. When he comes back, the merchant Jambroche finds her with Polichinelle and forces her to leave the house without her breeches (“culotte” – an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down to the knees). The Marquis demands that Polichinelle marry the young woman.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

France

Paris

Printed

Seduction

Sexual intercourse

Obedience

Ridiculous

Trade

Deception

Farcical

Comical

French

Cloth merchant

The Interpreter

Pierrot

Polichinelle

Dancer

Marquis

Misunderstanding

Trap

Ballet

Dialogue with a character in the audience

Le Marchand ridicule

The foolish Merchant

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

Death penalty

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

Hanging scene

La Fille obéissante

The obedient Daughter

Simple Simon pays a visit to his friend, Simple Susan, whom he thinks is a bit lazy. Simple Susan states that she hates men and that women can do anything better than them. She catcalls four boys, who bark as an answer, and asks them to help her build a house. First, she goes to choose work clothes. Simple Simon calls for her, but she is too busy and refuses his help. When she comes back in work clothes, the four boys bring the house that they have already built - a doll house. She asks them to send a picture of the house to the Daily Mail and to look for a buyer. While she complains about Simple Simon’s selfishness, he reappears, accompanied by a neighbour who thanks him for everything he is willing to do for her: build a carriage, a house, and go for a walk with her. Furious, Simple Susan asks the neighbour what she is going to do to repay Simple Simon. Her answer, “I can look pretty” makes Simple Susan break into pieces.