Kenneth McLeish's definitive translations of the most successful French dramatist of the Belle Epoque

Georges Feydau (1862-1921) was the most successful French dramatist of the belle epoque and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest of farce-writers. His series of dazzling hits match high-speed action and dialogue with ingenious plotting. Reaching the heights of farcical lunacy, his plays nevertheless contain touches of barbed social comment and allowed him to mention subjects which would have provoked outrage in the hands of more serious dramatists.

This volume of new,...

Kenneth McLeish's definitive translations of the most successful French dramatist of the Belle Epoque

Georges Feydau (1862-1921) was the most successful French dramatist of the belle epoque and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest of farce-writers. His series of dazzling hits matched high-speed action and dialogue with ingenious plotting. Reaching the heights of farcical lunacy, his plays nevertheless contain touches of barbed social comment and allowed him to mention subjects which would have provoked outrage in the hands of more serious dramatists.

This volume...

Georges Feydeau and Maurice Desvallieres, Translation by Peter Glenville

Characters: 13 male, 8 female, extras

Interior Sets

This mad French bedroom frolic finds an assortment of refined people stealing through the halls and rooms of a cheap hotel comically intent on assignations. "One of the funniest comedies since the silent movies." N.Y. Daily News. "Mr. Glenville's conception of this rumpus is riotous ... bold, reckless and funny." N.Y. Times.

Little Theatre

Comedy

Georges Feydeau, Translated by Barnett Shaw

Characters: 13 male, 6 female

3 interior scenes

The action revolves around a flirt who refuses lovers so long as her husband is faithful. A wild plot to entrap her stumblingly husband in flagrante delicto becomes so frenetic that the seducers, angry husbands, spying wives, innocent maids, pubescent bellboys and police inspectors lose track of who's in bed with whom. "Sheer delight." Dallas Downtown News.

Characters: 13 male, 7 female, plus extras.

Multiple sets

The lady has two lovers: a ne'er do well who is secretly affianced to a Baroness' daughter and a flamboyant Spanish general who challenges to a duel any man who comes near her. An amateur composer who hopes the lady will sing his song places his card in a bouquet sent anonymously and thereby seals his fate: the ne'er do well uses him to divert the general's flashing sword. Meanwhile, the ne'er do well is trapped in his skivvies outside his apartment. When the cops come to arrest him for indecent exposure, you can be sure...

Characters: 4 male, 6 female

Interior Set

Dr. Moulineaux has been out all night in a futile attempt to meet his mistress Suzanne. He tells his wife he has been with Bassinet who is near death, but in walks Bassinet. He decides it is no longer wise to have Suzanne pretend to be a patient and rents an apartment that formerly belonged to a dressmaker. He and Suzanne are discovered in this hide away by her husband, so the doctor poses as a dressmaker and is caught in a desperate entanglement when his wife, his mother in law, Bassinet and Bassinet's wife appear. Moulineaux's...