Arlequin-Deucalion - Alexis Piron

Printed

60 pages

Author(s)

Arlequin-Deucalion

Alexis Piron | 1722 | Paris, France
Genre (as defined by the author)
Monologue
Characters
Deucalion-Arlequin, Thalie, Melpomène, Apollon, Pyrrha, Momus sous la figure de Polichinelle, Pégase, Les Enfants, Sylphes, L'Amour, Une Grâce
Number of acts
3
Note

As the theatre owner François Moylin, known as Francisque, was not allowed to have more than one actor on stage at the same time, he asked Piron to composed this monologue, in which Arlequin (played by Francisque) speaks with a Polichinelle puppet. The production was a great success with the public (it had a total of 30 performances, a considerable number for the shows at the Fair).

As the Polichinelle puppet comes out of a barrel and is then thrown by Arlequin, it is probably a glove puppet.

Plot summary

The repopulation of the Earth after the Flood

Arlequin-Deucalion is the only survivor of the Flood ordered by the gods. Taking refuge on Parnassus, he hears the voice of a parrot and meets the Muses Thalia and Melpomene, Apollo and his wife Pyrrha, who have all become mute. He tries to ride Pegasus, but fails. Out of a barrel, he pulls several papers, a pair of pistols, and then Momus in the form of a Polichinelle puppet who is the only one allowed talking to him. Polichinelle-Momus explains to Arlequin-Deucalion how to repopulate the earth, and then asks him to throw him into the sea. Arlequin-Deucalion and Pyrrha make 5 men and 4 women appear.

Related works
The Metamorphoses, Ovid (Publius Ovidius, aka Naso)1er siècle après J.-C.
Composition date
1722

First performance

Paris, France, 25 février 1722 -

Jeu de Francisque, Saint-Germain Fair, Paris.

Publications and translations

Publication

Alexis Piron, Œuvres complètes, vol. 3. Paris: Lambert, 1776.

Language
French
Literary tones
Comical
Animations techniques
Glove-puppet
Audience
Not specified
Licence
Public domain

Key-words

Theatrical techniques

Identifiers

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Written by

Didier Plassard