In this rewriting of La Perruque de Cassandre (Cassandre’s Wig), a puppet play from the repertoire of the Théâtre Séraphin, Laure Choisy replaces the name of Cassandre, a ridiculous old man from the Commedia dell’Arte, with that of the founder of the first Parisian shadow theatre, Dominique Séraphin. Choisy also gave Colombine a different personality (she does not hesitate to oppose her father), introduced several anachronisms (the action is set under Louis XIV’s reign but radios and mail plane are mentioned), and added Figaro, the Lion’s hairdresser, as well as a whole range of curl paper and hair curlers around the sleeping Lion’s head.

Séraphin wants to marry his daughter Colombine to Pierrot, but she prefers Arlequin, a wigmaker and the inventor of an anti-baldness cream. Séraphin is about to eat an egg from the bird Rock, but the bird steals his wig. He promises to give his daughter’s hand to anyone who will be able to bring the wig back to him. With the help of his godmother the Fée Carabosse (Wicked Fairy), Pierrot travels in the air, accompanied by Arlequin, who grabbed his leg. They arrive on an island where a crocodile almost eats Pierrot, and they embark on a small boat that breaks in half after an argument between them. On the Île des Bêtes (Island of the Beasts), the Lion is upset because it is losing its mane. Arlequin offers it the cream, but first, he tries it on Pierrot. The Lion is enthusiastic and decides to name it the Pommade du Lion (Cream of the Lion). Séraphin arrives, and when he witnesses Arlequin’s success, he gives him Colombine’s hand in marriage.