Fanfan l’orphelin is a “pièce du jeudi” (Thursday play) – a genre unique to the Théâtre Louis Richard in Roubaix. In 1904, Maurice Richard (Louis Richard’s son) convinced his father to open the theatre on Thursdays, which used to be a day off for school students. He would outline the main elements of these Thursday plays. They were performed based on a minimal text and the action was even more condensed than in the usual plays of the Théâtre Richard (each act contained a few short sentences to explain the action without using dialogue). The plays were made up of 4 or 5 acts. Almost all Thursday plays were only played once.

The action is most likely set during the 18th century, but no precise historical context is provided.

Josuez l’Autrichien (Josuez the Austrian) would like to marry Flore, but her uncle – a rich farmer named Danglois – objects to it. Josuez kills Danglois. Flore believes that her uncle has joined the army. She sets off in search of the French troops, but she ends up meeting the Austrians. When they hear her scream, the French come to her rescue, and they engage in battle against the Austrians.

Josuez tries to get rid of Fanfan, an orphan raised at the farm and who is in love with Flore. Flore returns to the farm. Josuez follows her. Because she does not want to marry him, he wishes to kill her, so he can at least lay hands on the money. Fanfan comes in and kills him. Flore finds the body of her uncle in the well. The French come in and announce that they have won.