Son of author George Sand, Maurice Sand started writing puppet plays in 1847 for performances intended only for his family and some of his friends in Nohant (France).

A key aspect of Maurice Sand’s theatre is the meticulous work done on the wooden head of his puppets made with Eugène Lambert, both having learnt anatomical drawing from Delacroix. The costumes, created with the help of George Sand to be in harmony with the face, reflect the personality of the characters. The set and the puppet booth complete it. Maurice Sand’s theatre is thus a collective work and is characterised by an artistic versatility.

Le Lundi de la Comtesse is a comedy centered on social and humorous misunderstandings. In this play, there is a recurring character, Balandard: Maurice Sand’s alter ego.

In Paris, every Monday, the countess of Valtreuse welcomes her guests. The servants, Javotte, Lebrancho, and Baptiste, go on strike and demand a raise. Madame de Saint-Rémy takes advantage of a door left open, and visits the countess to offer her a money match for her daughter Marguerite, as well as the services of her servant to organize a reception in honor of the future groom. The same day, Balandard, a nobleman, and Parasol, Madame de Saint-Rémy’s servant, both arrive. The countess gets them mixed up, believes that Parasol is an aristocrat, and introduces him as her future son-in-law. Balandard gets caught up in this game and does the tasks of a servant. The solicitor arrives, and wants to sign the prenuptial contract between Marguerite and Parasol ; the latter unsuccessfully tries to clarify the whole situation. Madame de Saint Rémy arrives and the truth is revealed. The evening gets out of hand with the intervention of Baptiste and of the superintendent.