The anonymous manuscript is kept in M. de Soleinne’s Bibliothèque dramatique (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Manuscripts Department, FF 9312). It is the third of four handwritten plays transcribed in a “Répertoire des petites pieces de Polichinelle” (Repertory of short Polichinelle plays). The other three plays are L’Enlèvement de Proserpine par Pluton roi des Enfers, Polichinelle colin-maillard and Le Marchand Ridicule. It is sometimes dated 1695, but this date hardly seems possible. Like the other three plays, Polichinelle Grand-Turc might have been staged by Gillot in 1708. These plays were edited by Françoise Rubellin, who observes that the Polichinelle in these plays is largely different from the Polichinelle staged in the “théâtres de la Foire”, who was probably more well-known.

Gaston Baty made a handwritten copy of the play which is kept in the Institut International de la Marionnette (don Temporal).

The Compère character was played by an actor facing the stage and serving as a mediator between the performers and the audience.

Polichinelle tells his Compère (Companion) that he has come into a private income and wishes to host a ball, but Compère explains that this income will barely be enough to buy a candle. A Turk arrives and gives sumptuous Grand Turk clothes to Polichinelle as well as the key to his seraglio. Polichinelle joins the women of the seraglio, his Compère sings a song and the play ends with a group of shepherds and shepherdesses dancing.