Typewriting
36 pages
Le Destin de la princesse Églantine
Chant de chevalerie en quatre chapitres et quatorze actions
A typewritten copy of this text, dated from January 1927, is kept in the Museum of Walloon Life in Liège. It comes from the association "Les Amis de l'art populaire - Section des marionnettes liégeoises" which had been put together by Thomas Talbot (1885-1930). In 1933, the text is published as a booklet – a copy of which is kept in the Institut International de la Marionnette (Charleville-Mézières).
The action is set “in London, in Little Red Riding Hood's and Hop-O’-My-Thumb’s time". Tchantchès plays the characters of two Seneschals-couriers, the Portier (doorman), the Jardinier (Gardener), the Ménager (Domestic) and the Charcutier (Pork Butcher). Two Tchantchès puppets must then be present simultaneously on stage for some scenes – one as the real Tchantchès and the other as another character.
Two lovers marry despite a rival
Christians (prince and king of Denmark) gathers his vassals and asks them to approve of his decision to marry. He has decided to propose to Églantine. She is the daughter of king Arthus of England, whom he has defeated several times. After his vassals agree, he sends his seneschal Tchantchès to Arthus to submit his proposal. Arthus rejoices at the news, but Églantine worries. She is under a spell - if the one who marries her cannot solve a riddle and save her life on the day of their wedding, she will be changed into a statue. Églantine presents the prince Christians with the riddle and he cannot solve it.
On the day of the wedding, Chevalier Jasmin (Knight Jasmin), who is in love with Églantine, arrives at the castle and reproaches Églantine for betraying their love. She tries to reassure him. Then Chevalier Jasmin sees Christians, who conceals his identity and repeats the riddle presented by Églantine. Jasmin solves it, and Christians repeats the answer to Églantine. A dragon appears - only Chevalier Jasmin comes to Églantine’s aid and kills it. As Christians tries to imitate Chevalier Jasmin, he suffers a deadly fall. Arthus sends Tchantchès on the Danish camp to inform the people of Christians’ death. However, his message is misunderstood and Chevalier Guldenstern, who believes Arthus has killed Christians, sends the Danish troupes to his castle. Following the advice given by his knights, Arthus asks Jasmin to defend the drawbridge. Tchantchès offers to assist Jasmin, then Églantine joins them too. The three of them fight the Danish army and repel it. As a reward, Arthus makes Jasmin his son-in-law. He wonders at the feats the three of them achieved.
First performance
Publications and translations
Thomas Talbot, Le Destin de la princesse Églantine. Liège: imprimerie A. Dubuisson, 1933.