Kom, king of the city of Polimicra, announces to his people that a giant is treading on their land. He promises his daughter to whoever defeats him: Occe, who is in love with Nec, therefore comes forward and offers himself as a champion. Although she pretends not to have feelings, Nec is secretly in love with the giant Ercole (Hercules). Vam, the Pygmies’ general, is in love with Has, Kom’s second daughter. But Has is in love with Occe. The envoy Brin announces the arrival of the giant; he describes him in horrifying terms: the giant Ercole demands the king’s two daughters, or he will destroy the city. In the gardens of the palace, Nec and Has see the sky darken when the giant arrives. Has is desperate, but Nec rejoices: either her kingdom defeats him, or she will become Ercole’s wife. In the panic, a propitiatory sacrifice is made to Mammon, while the battle is being prepared. Brin is trying to accept that he will be devoured; the general Vam suggests that they put the giant to sleep to defeat him. Has declares his love to Occe, to try and stop him from the certain death awaiting him; but Occe’s decision does not change in the slightest. During the sacrifice, Has prays for the people, while Nec refuses to pray for the defeat of the one she loves: her father sends her to the dungeon. Brin arrives, distressed: Ercole’s nose is showing - it was taken for a mobile rock – and Ercole is asking for the king’s daughters. The giant makes fun of Occe, who is trying to fight him. Vam fills the place with smoke. Ercole sneezes: everyone falls to the ground and believes that they are being punished by the gods. They try to flee, but are stopped by Ercole’s hand. Only Nec stands before Ercole to declare her love. Out of pity and admiration for her bravery, Ercole commands Nec and Occe to marry, as well as Vam and Has, and he decides to spare everyone.

String marionette

Not specified

Martello Pier Jacopo

Italy

Rome

Printed

Giant

Pygmies

Threat

Sneezing

Wedding

Humorous

Burlesque

Parodistic

Pier Jacopo Martello, Lo starnuto d'Ercole. Teatro italiano, Parte ultima. Bologna: Lelie Dalla Volpe, 1723.

Italian

Hercules

King

Princess

Prince

General

Messenger

Playing with scale

Music

Chorus

Public announcement

Monologue

Invisible character

Confinement

Fight between an actor and a puppet

Ridiculous fight

Earthquake

Character thrown in the air

Final wedding

Lo starnuto d'Ercole

Hercules's sneeze

Incredibly thirsty, Polichinelle and Niflanguille order a barrel of wine to the tavern-keeper Baillenflé, but they refuse to pay for it, fight him and then run away. To avenge himself, Baillenflé asks his brother the Sorcier (Sorcerer) to bewitch the barrel before gifting it to Polichinelle and Niflanguille as a sign of truce. When the two stooges open it, a Crocodile comes out and bites Polichinelle’s nose. To get rid of the Crocodile, Polichinelle offers it different objects before pushing Niflanguille towards it. The Crocodile takes Niflanguille away, Polichinelle closes the barrel and calls a Gendarme (Constable) for help. The Gendarme opens the barrel and the Crocodile takes him away as well. Polichinelle kills a Soldat (Soldier) with a cannon blow to feed the Crocodile. As soon as the reptile exits the barrel, Polichinelle enters it to get some wine. The Crocodile comes back, tries to catch Polichinelle, and moves towards his house. Worried for his family, Polichinelle and the Sorcier join forces to hang the Crocodile. When Polichinelle thinks that he can finally drink in peace, the Diable (Devil) arrives, locks him in the barrel and drags him to Hell.

Glove-puppet

All audiences

France

Paris

Thirst

Wine

Theft

Cunning

Crocodile

Magic

Cannon

Cabaret

Farcical

French

Polichinelle

Magician

Sorcerer

Constable

Soldier

Devil

Running gag

Final intervention of the devil

Character crushed by a barrel

Blow-with-a-stick

Comical fall of a character

Fight with an animal

Cannon shot

Chase

Song

Hanging scene

Le Tonneau

The Barrel

Starving, Gripandouille goes to the pork butcher to buy some black pudding. Because they’re out of it, he ruins the shop, beats the Charcutier (Pork butcher) to death and puts his corpse in his basket. Still starving, Gripandouille steals a black pudding from a Vieille Femme (Old Woman), then from an Élégant (Sophisticated Man) and finally from a Gendarme (Constable) before killing them all and hiding them in his basket. However, every stolen sausage is taken from him by a Chien (Dog) and then by the Diable (Devil). The Diable leaves, but not before bringing Gripandouille’s victims back to life: they beat their murderer to death to punish him for not resisting his desires.

Hunger

Black pudding

Lust

Basket

Punishment

Trade

Resurrection

Tantalus punishment

Comical

Frontispiece of Les Boudins de Gripandouille. Drawing: Duranty. Engraving: V. Cousin.