Polichinelle lazziste is a puppet play that was performed during the fifth Soirée des Lazzistes (Soirée of the Lazzistes). The Lazzistes were a group of eight friends who, each in turn, organised society performances after suppers, during the winter of 1731-1732. These performances were called “lazzi”: the meaning given to this word was that of divertissement. They were the sole authors, performers and audience of these performances, which were always prepared in secret and had to all be different in nature: a masked ball, a fake act of a performing dog, a puppet play, a performance with a magical lantern, … Jeanne-Françoise Quinault, actress at the Comédie-Française, initiated these soirées, the participants of which also included the Comte (Count) de Caylus, the Comte de Maurepas, the Comte de Livry, Alexis Piron, Charles-Alexandre Salley, Mademoiselle Quinault-Dufresne and Mademoiselle Balicourt. They are mentioned in the text by the nicknames they used during these soirées: “Mlle Tonton (Mademoiselle Uncle)” is Mademoiselle Quinault, “M. (Mr.) Luchon” is the Comte de Caylus, “Mlle Bouri” is Mademoiselle Balicourt, “Mlle Loulou” is Mademoiselle Quinault-Dufresne, “M. Satyre (Satyr)” is Salley, “M. Bavard (talkative)” is Piron, “M. l’Ingrat (ingrate)” is the Comte de Maurepas, and “M. Souverain (sovereign)” is the Comte de Livry.

Polichinelle tells the Compère (sidekick) that he started selling lazzis (divertissements) to support his six lovers but fears that he will lack wit. A Magicien (Magician) helps him by sending him to a sabbat, where he can become a sorcerer. The Lazzistes come one by one and make requests which he cannot fulfil. Polichinelle promises Mlle Tonton that he will introduce her to M. l’Ingrat. He makes a miniature theatre appear for M. Bavard. Mlle Tonton and M. l’Ingrat recognise one another and have a lovers’ quarrel. M. Souverain makes a sensational entry. To support his claim that he is the greatest Lazziste, he starts a firework show and announces the beginning of the supper.