In Trépagny-les-Mèches, Piquendaire, the innkeeper, displays his support for the candidate Manandar, and despises his rival Tringlet, whom he describes as a « radical, labourer ». At the same time, the street performer Conquenbois, dressed as Hercules, gives a street performance with his assistant Eloa. After their performance, Piquendaire gets ready to welcome Manandar in his hotel, but gets confused and welcomes Balandard instead, accompanied by Ida and Céleste. Settled in the hotel, Balandard meets Coquenbois and Eloa, and invites them to dinner. Piquendaire, convinced that he is destined for a prestigious job, is in charge of bringing a candidate to an important dinner. During the reception, Balandard is invited to give a speech, but he confesses that he is not Manandar. However, the guests do not realise their mistake. Finally, Balandard introduces the « real » candidate: Coquenbois. Tringlet recognises the street performer immediately, but Coquenbois challenges him to a duel and is victorious, thus becoming the favourite in the elections.

Glove-puppet

Not specified

Maurice Sand (Maurice Sand)

France

Nohant

Printed

Elections

Politics

Artiste

Dinner

Fighting

Comical

Satirical

Eugène Lambert, George Sand, Maurice Sand : puppet of Coquenbois.

French

Le Candidat

Director of the theatre

Balandard

Street performer

Innkeeper

Worker

Domestic servant

Actor

General director

Mayor

Constable

Fireman

Actress

Lady

Maid

Counselor

Citizen

Musician

Aside

Brawl

Misunderstanding

Situation comedy

Comedy of language

Monologue

Comic speech

Aria

Theatre within the theatre

Le Candidat de Trépagny

The Candidate from Trépagny

The action is set in Châteauroux in 1875. Friturin the innkeeper is going away for a few days, leaving his wife Ursule alone with two servants, Jean and Mariette. A female traveller, Corisande, arrives at the inn but has to share a room with Madame Friturin. Another traveller, Balandard, claims a bed in a shared room that happens to be the one where Corisande sleeps. Balandard cannot sleep because of the snoring of “his neighbour”, and, not knowing that it is actually Corisande, he shakes her up. Thinking that the aggression comes from Madame Friturin, Corisande protests. After quarrelling, they switch beds. Jean, who is in charge of waking up Corisande so that she can take her diligence, gets confused and wakes up Balandard. Corisande misses her diligence and because she believes that Madame Friturin is next to her, she accuses her of not having woken her up. Eventually, the misunderstanding is revealed. Balandard agrees to drive Corisande to La Châtre after having slept. When Monsieur Friturin comes back sooner than expected, he finds a man in his wife’s bed. While this happens, a fire sets off in the inn.