Two rats, Monsieur le Rat Deschamps (literally, Mister the Rat From-the-countryside), an elector, and Monsieur le Rat Deville (literally, Mister the Rat From-the-city) - candidate in the election, attend a dinner party organised to secure votes. Deschamps questions Deville on a number of subjects, and especially on his oratorical skills. Deville admits to not being a real orator; he reveals that he only knows how to imitate the voice of others and immediately illustrates his abilities. However, Deschamps questions his honesty and declares: “Ayant trop de voix, vous n’aurez pas la mienne” (“You have too many voices, you will not have mine”; in French, “voix” means both “voices” and “vote”). Deville does not despair and, addressing the audience, asks for support.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Lemercier de Neuville Louis

France

Paris

Vichy

Printed

Elections

Corruption

Dinner

Meals

Comical

Satirical

Lemercier de Neuville, Les Deux Rats, 1866.

French

Member of parliament

Elector

Play in verse

Aside

Aria

Character represented in animal form

Imitation

Address to the public

Instrumental tune

Allusion to current political events

Les Deux rats

The Two Rats