THE FRENCH IN LONDON – THEATER

THE FRENCH IN LONDON – THEATER
Louis de Boissy’s The French in London was taken to the scene countless times during the eighteenth century and represented in the palace of the Marquis of Pombal in Oeiras on the day of his birthday on May 13, 1767.
It is a comedy in one act, which emphasizes the social and cultural characteristics of the time, confronting French and English culture and customs in the eighteenth century by typifying the figures. The simple story does not fail to reveal to us a precious portrait of this period, in which French customs and fashion dominated Europe, not without pride. These are emphasized through the figure of the Marquis de Polinville, whose gallant precepts that dominate him, and with which he intends to educate the world, give him a futile and arrogant character, which favors the comedy of the scenes. In the antipodes of this, Jacques Rosbif is found, without grace, nor manners, nor manners. It is between French courtesy and English common sense that the text and figures struggle. Through the comic generated by the confrontation between very different customs, this piece offers a valuable lesson on cultural and social aspects of the eighteenth century, which, also in Portugal, generated controversy.

On this night of the party, it is the family and friends of the Count of Oeiras who invite him to a theater where domestic theater dominates the assembly.

M. de Boissy
Louis de Boissy was born in Vic-sur-Cère (Cantal) in 1694, from where he left for Paris in 1717. With a critical and irreverent spirit, he began his career as a satirical poet, attacking ferociously the most famous men of letters of his time. Soon he becomes the author of theater (1725), having published about forty pieces over the thirty years he dedicated to this genre, both in the French Theater and the Italian Theater. Among his audience are the most eminent figures of the time. It stands out for the spirit, imagination, strength and liveliness of its works, having provoked the laughter of the French on their own defects. He was applauded for “painting with great Finnish and true the high society and the man of court”. In the journalistic field, he directed the Gazette de France and was the holder of the privilege of the Mercure de France. He wrote poetry and novels, but it was in the dramatic genre that stood out. His pieces were collected and published in Oeuvres de théâtre by M. de Boissy, “nouvelle édition correcée et augmentée”, Veuve Duchesne, 1766, 9 vol. .. Fruit of the recognition he obtained in his time and due to the support and admiration of Mme of Pompadour, was elected member of the French Academy in 1754, and was received with enthusiasm by the assembly of this institution and by the public. He died in Paris in 1758, receiving a tribute from the French Academy in a ceremony attended by several prominent figures of his time, such as d’Alembert, who left us several written testimonies about the author.
. Source: Dictionnaire des journalistes (1600-1789), in: http://dictionnaire-journalistes.gazettes18e.fr/journaliste/086-louis-de-boissy (Retrieved May 2017)

Directed by: Alfredo Pereira Nunes
Interpretation: Alfredo Pereira Nunes; Flávia Lopes; Inês Zaradzay; João Carneiro; João Mais; Cláudio Pereira; Miguel Moisés.
Scenography and costumes: Sons & Ecos, Lda.
Translation and adaptation: Raquel Alves Coelho
Sound: Anaïs Le Saux
Production: Cantiga D’Alba – Cultural Association
Coordination of the project: Raquel Alves Coelho

Target audience: Young people and adults
Capacity: Min. 20 – Max 60
(Children under 6 years old are not allowed to enter)

Admission: € 12 (Discounts for groups of 4 or more people)

Information and Reservations: servicoeducativo.palacio@cm-oeiras.pt; Shop of the Marquês de Pombal Palace (T. 214430799);
Image C. M. Oeiras