The people are against the reign of the countess Jeanne de Flandre (Joan of Flanders) and demand the return of her father, Comte Baudoin (Count Baldwin). Sire Raoul de Mauléon (Lord Raoul of Mauléon), Jeanne’s faithful servant, asks her for an audience. He reminds her of all the crimes he committed to get her the crown, and demands a reward. Their meeting is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Sire Hubert (Lord Hubert) who announces that Comte Baudoin is alive and on his way to the court. As soon as he arrives, Jeanne will lose her crown. Determined to keep her power, she summons Burgue, another servant, and orders him to search for the man pretending to be Comte Baudoin. Shortly after, she announces that she will marry Sire Raoul de Mauléon, but she is interrupted by Comte Baudoin. The confrontation between the father and the daughter leads them to be summoned before the Court of Roi Louis VIII (King Louis VIII). During the trial, the Roi asks three questions in order to verify the identity of Comte Baudoin. The Comte fails to answer the last one. However, Sire Hubert intervenes, accompanied by Marguerite, another daughter of the Comte. Marguerite recognises her father, but it is not enough: Jeanne requires the “judgement of God”–a fight. Mauléon will fight for her, and Pierre de la Cy will defend Comte Baudoin. At the end of the fight, Pierre de la Cy is defeated and killed. Marguerite begs the Roi to let her follow her father in prison, and he accepts. Jeanne then goes to see the imprisoned Comte to force him to deny his identity by signing a document, but he refuses. Later, Sire Raoul de Mauléon is very remorseful and tries to convince Jeanne to end their criminal activity. She firmly refuses and orders Burgue to suppress him. However, Mauléon survives. Meanwhile, Sire Hubert and other Seigneurs (Lords) manage to free Comte Baudoin. Mauléon comes back and murders Jeanne before the eyes of Comte Baudoin and of the people; he is then killed by Sire Hubert.

String marionette

All audiences

France

Printed

People

Countess

Crime

Crown

Power

Father-daughter relationship

Justice

Jail

Freedom

Remorse

Death

Melodramatic

French

Count

Lord

Knight

King

Cardinal

Guard

Soldier

Daughter

Off-stage noise

Aside

False exit

Court scene

Fight to the death

Death on stage

Release of a prisoner

Jeanne de Flandre

Joan of Flanders

M. Prudhomme visits Madame Benoiton and asks for her youngest daughter’s hand for his son. At first, Madame Benoiton mistakes him for a merchant. Once his identity cleared up, Madame Benoiton suggests for them to talk and to get to know each other. During their conversation, she questions him on famous personalities and authors such as Victorien Sardou, Poquelin, Dumas fils, Octave Feuillet, Émile de Girardin, Ponson du Terrail and Timothée Trimm. The conversation, now light and mundane, is punctuated by dances: Madame Benoiton seems charmed by M. Prudhomme, thanks to his manners and his answers. M. Prudhomme does his best to give a good impression and assures that “like father like son”. The conversation continues with lots of compliments and mutual gallant remarks. In the end, they agree to the wedding. However, as he is about to leave, M. Prudhomme’s aside reveals that none of what he said is what he really thought.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Lemercier de Neuville Louis

Paris

Social Conversation

Bourgeoisie

Wedding

Current events

Life of the theatres

Comical

Satirical

Lemercier de Neuville, illustration for Les Fourberies de M. Prudhomme, 1868.

Bourgeois

Monsieur Prudhomme

Woman of the bourgeoisie

Sung scenes

Music

Current affairs

Address to the public

Les Fourberies de M. Prudhomme

M. Prudhomme’s Trickeries

A young alchemist, Émile, and his assistant Guignol are preparing for their final experiment—to create a man. Instead of a man, however, a Monstre (Monster) rises out of the cauldron, scaring the two men as well as Émile’s fiancée, Amélie, the daughter of Baron de Valbreuze. Émile and Guignol go to a cemetery, where they are advised by a Squelette (Skeleton) to question an old Alchimiste (Alchemist), who can teach them how to get rid of the Monstre. The Monstre is devoured by ghosts and disappears. Guignol and Émile go back to the Baron and to his daughter, and the young couple signs a marriage contract.

Vuillerme-Dunand Victor-Napoléon

Manuscript

Alchemy

Monster

Double

Cemetery

Fantastic

Le Monstre et l'alchimiste, censorship archives (first page of the text)