Crispien Ier : La Vie et l'œuvre de Raymond Poisson comédien-poète du XVIIe siècle

Raymond Poisson, a contemporary of Molière, was the leading comic actor with the troupe of the Hôtel de Bourgogne and later at the Comédie Française during the first five years of its existence. He popularized one of the French stage's best-loved stock characters, the impudent servant Crispin, while finding time to supply his troupe with short comedies in which he himself starred. This study is thoroughly documented and reflects the author's detailed knowledge of, and interest in, the period. It establishes Poisson's place in theatrical history, and illuminates a whole tradition in French theatre in the seventeenth century. Avant-propos 7 Premiere Partie. La Vie de Raymond Poisson 13 1. Les trente premières années 13 2. 1660–70 21 3. 1670–80 42 4. 1680–5 58 5. Les dernières années 71 Deuxieme Partie. Crispin 85 6. Les portraits de Poisson et la légende de Crispin 85 7. La Contribution de Poisson à l’évolution de Crispin 92 Troisieme Partie. Poisson auteur comique 127 8. Lubin ou le Sot vangé 127 9. Le Baron de la Grasse 142 10. Le Fou raisonnable 161 11. L’Après-soupé des auberges 171 12. Le Poète basque 186 13. Les Faux Moscovites 200 14. Les Femmes coquettes 214 15. La Holande malade 242 16. Les Foux divertissans 257 Conclusion 275 Appendices 285 Bibliographie 291 Notes 317 Index 339 Table 355 Raymond Poisson, a contemporary of Moli�ere, was the leading comic actor with the troupe of the H�otel de Bourgogne and later at the Com�edie Fran�caise during the first five years of its existence. He popularized one of the French stage's best-loved stock characters, the impudent servant Crispin, while finding time to supply his troupe with short comedies in which he himself starred. This study is thoroughly documented and reflects the author's detailed knowledge of, and interest in, the period. It establishes Poisson's place in theatrical history, and illuminates a whole tradition in French theatre in the seventeenth century