The Opéra (Opera) is complaining to Ennui, which scares the audience away. The Foire (Fair) comes to ask it for a play, and meets Endymion, who asks him to parody him. Polichinelle drives Endymion and Ennui away.

Rod and string marionette

Not specified

Carolet Denis

France

Paris

Printed

Rivalry of theatres

Opera

Boredom

Failure

Comical

Satirical

Le Palais de l'Ennuy, Soleinne collection, BnF

French

Fair

Polichinelle

Allegory

Aria

Le Palais de l'Ennui ou le Triomphe de Polichinelle

The Palace of Ennui or Polichinelle's Triumph

Bored, Polichinelle wants to have fun. Pierrot suggests for him to open a theatre, but Polichinelle is penniless. Against the promise of a nice meal, Pierrot takes care of finding the needed money. He makes the Commissaire (Superintendent) and the Gendarme (Constable) believe that Cassandre’s bag of écus is the one that was stolen from him. His trick works, and Pierrot brings the money to Polichinelle who thanks him by beating him with his stick. In his troupe, Polichinelle hires everyone he encounters: they all have a specific talent. This is how Polichinelle’s theatre unveils before our eyes. Being a good director, he calls for the kindness of the audience.

Glove-puppet

All audiences

Desnoyers Fernand

Theatre

Actor

Money

Alphonse Legros, engraving for Fernand Desnoyers' Le Théâtre de Polichinelle, 1861

Prologue en vers pour l'ouverture du Théâtre de marionnettes dans le jardin des Tuileries