This play is one of the very few written examples we have of 18th-century “ombres corporelles” shows, a type of shadow theatre in which the silhouettes on screen were those of the actors themselves.

The edition mentions that the play was first performed in a private theatre in 1767, before it was printed in 1770. In his Correspondance littéraire, philosophique et critique (August 15, 1770), the baron Friedrich Melchior von Grimm rejoices in the publication of the play and writes that “we must hope that there will soon be a whole repertory of such plays”.

The fisherman Colin finds a golden vase in his nets. The genie Elemaliga is imprisoned inside it. As a gesture of gratitude for having delivered him, Elemaliga bestows magical powers to Colin. With this magical help, Colin triumphs over his rival Philippe, recovers the fortune he should have inherited and marries Lisbette.