This anonymous manuscript is part of the Soleinne collection (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, FF 9313). In their Dictionnaire des théâtres de Paris (Dictionary of Parisian theatres: third volume, 1756, page 213-214), the Parfaict brothers, Claude and François, suggest that this play originally performed with Bienfait’s puppets “was based on a contemporary vaudeville about a giant man, who was seen this same year at the Foire [Saint-Germain Fair in Paris], & employed for some time by the Comédie-Italienne to perform in a play entitled Le Conte de fées (The fairy Tale); a sort of parody of this play was staged with puppets”.

The giant in Le Conte de fées was a twenty-nine-year-old Finnish man, who was “six feet eight inches and eight lignes high [2,34 m], measured up precisely without shoes in French units of measurement, & generally well-proportioned” (Antoine de Léris, Dictionnaire portatif, historique et littéraire des théâtres (Portable, historical and literary dictionary of theatres), 1763, page 123).

Although a dance of four Pantalons was planned in the list of characters, the text of the play announces a dance of young girls.

Polichinelle and Pierrot, the survivors of a shipwreck which separated them from their troupe of comedians (made up in fact of other puppets), land on the Île des Fées (Isle of the Fairies). They are welcomed by a benevolent Fée (Fairy) who promises to help them: a Géant (Giant) will take them to Paris, where they are expected in their theatre. While Polichinelle runs to store wine in a cool place, Pierrot meets the Géant; he confirms that he is going to help them. The Fée makes a sumptuous feast appear for Pierrot, who is starving; she also introduces him to a young girl who wants to marry him. The Géant comes back to take Polichinelle, Pierrot and his new wife, and the whole troupe of puppets to Paris.