Molière's company
Molière's company (La Troupe de Molière) was the theatrical company which formed around Molière from 1648 onwards. It followed his Illustre Théâtre and disappeared in 1680, seven years after his death, upon its merger with the troupes of the théâtre du Marais and the Hôtel de Bourgogne, giving birth to the Comédie-Française.
Provinces
Paris
In 1680, by order of Louis XIV of France, the troupe at the Hôtel de Bourgogne merged into those already gathered by Molière and the Théâtre du Marais. The larger company allowed daily shows, and even to play to the court and to the city on the same day. Thus the Comédie-Française was born.
Actors
By date of joining the troupe:
Repertoire
The company's repertoire was not mainly comic. In 1659, its first full year based in Paris, it put on (grouped by genre) the following plays, seemingly its provincial repertoire too:
Tragedy
It is notable there are more tragedies than comedies in the repertoire.
- Alcionée, by Pierre Du Ryer
- Le Cid, by Pierre Corneille
- Cinna, by Pierre Corneille
- Héraclius, by Pierre Corneille
- Horace, by Pierre Corneille
- Marianne, by Tristan L'Hermite
- La Mort de Crispe, by François de Grenaille
- La Mort de Pompée, by Pierre Corneille
- Oreste et Pilade, by François-Joseph de Chancel
- Rodogune, by Pierre Corneille
- Scévole, by Pierre du Ryer
- Venceslas, by Jean Rotrou
- Zénobie, by Jean Magnon
Tragi-comedy
Comedy
- Le Campagnard, by Gillet de La Tessonerie
- La Folle Gageure, by François Le Métel de Boisrobert
- L’Héritier ridicule, by Paul Scarron
- Don Japhet d’Arménie, by Paul Scarron
- Jodelet ou le Maître valet, by Paul Scarron
- Jodelet prince, by Thomas Corneille
- Le Gouvernement de Sancho Pansa, by Guyon Guérin de Bouscal
- Le Médecin malgré lui, by Molière
- Le Menteur, by Pierre Corneille
- Les Visionnaires, by Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin.
Farce
It is also noteworthy that there are only three works by Molière himself in the company's repertoire at this point, though by 1673 30 of its 90 play repertoire were by him (many inspired by the comedies above).
Sources
- Henry Lyonnet, Dictionnaire des comédiens français, Bibliothèque de la revue Universelle Internationale Illustrée, Paris et Genève, 1902–1908
- Pierre Larousse, Grand Dictionnaire Universel du XIXe siecle
- Théâtre complet de Molière, Le Livre de poche.