L’Enfant prodigue (The prodigal child) is a reconstitution of a traditional performance of travelling puppeteers. It was created by Gaston Baty, who drew inspiration from two different sources: a version transcribed from memory by Émile-Isidore Pitou II (1859-1942), who had learned it from his father, Émile-Auguste Pitou I (1826-1881); and a version given by Victor Pajot (1984-1951), a French puppeteer from the Pajot-Walton family of puppeteers. The repertoire was similar in all travelling theatres (those of Pajot, Pitou and Levergeois). Nonetheless, the plays were performed in different ways and under different titles.

The story of the Théâtre Pitou begins circa 1840, under the name “Théâtre des Fantoccini”, when Pitou I is hired by Hubert Chok to decorate the puppets and play the accordion during the show. After Chok’s death in 1871, Pitou takes over the direction of the theatre, and changes its name to its definitive one.

L’Enfant prodigue is part of the permanent repertoire of the Théâtre Pitou, in which Crasmagne is a recurring character. Even though his origins are uncertain, his existence is attested at least from the time Chok was leading the troupe.

Benjamin, a young man, asks his servant Crasmagne to leave with him, not as a servant but as a mentor and a friend. Crasmagne is unsure at first, but as he is promised a great sum of money, he accepts. Benjamin tells him to meet him at midnight in a park.

In the park, a strongbox is hidden inside a detached house; it is filled with jewels that used to belong to Benjamin’s mother. Benjamin orders Crasmagne to fetch the strongbox. Faced with his master’s threats, the servant has no choice but to oblige.

However, once in possession of the strongbox, Crasmagne hides it somewhere else and pretends not to have found it. Furious, Benjamin enters the detached house to retrieve it. Meanwhile, Crasmagne, who is standing outside, sees Monsieur Lésimond, Benjamin’s father. Remorseful, he tells him the whole truth.

Shortly after, Benjamin comes out of the house with the strongbox in one hand and a gun in the other. His father curses him and leaves. Crasmagne and Benjamin go to the “Coq Plumé” (Plucked Rooster) hotel. Once there, they meet the hostess and Javotte, her servant. Benjamin leaves Casmagne without a meal, and goes to have fun. However, their vacation soon turns to chaos: after gambling, they are thrown out of the hotel almost naked and penniless.

Famished and exhausted, they encounter a peasant who offers them a job: Crasmagne becomes a valet and Benjamin a pig-keeper. Crasmagne dines with the peasant, leaving Benjamin alone with his thoughts: an angel appears and suggests for him to go back to his father. Shortly after, Crasmagne comes back with some soup and learns of Benjamin’s decision to go back home. Once home, Benjamin is forgiven by his father.