This volume analyses the nature of the mime art of Deburau and of the pantomime performances of the Théâtre des Funambules in Paris in the context of Romantic art, literature and socio-political thought.
Deburau and the Théâtre des Funambules are characteristic of Romantic art in that they are closely associated with certain aspirations for social reform, even revolution. Deburau was an iconic figure for intellectuals such as George Sand who effectively considered him to be part of the ‘poète-maçon’ movement. Edward Nye examines this fascination as well as the myth which developed from it.
With its unique framing in art, literature and politics, this book is a must read for undergraduates and postgraduates in theatre, literary studies and the Romantic period.
Author(s): Edward Nye
Series: Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 290
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and references
Introduction
Deburau and his theatre
Deburau, other theatres, other actors
The sources
Terminology
1 Pierrots before Deburau: The history of Pierroterie
The first Pierrot: Giuseppe Giaratone
At the Parisian foire theatres: Belloni and Hamoche
A medley of Pierrots
Chiarini at the Théâtre des Funambules
Deburau
Conclusion
2 The images of Deburau: Portrait of the saltimbanque as an artist
What’s in a name?
The first images
Deburau at the balustrade
Janin’s Deburau. Histoire du théâtre à quatre sous
Deburau: clown, acrobat or Pierrot?
Mute mime
Whiteness
Greatness
Comedy
Deburau the murderer?
A working-class artist?
Pierrot-Watteau?
Conclusion
3 Staging and mime at the Théâtre des Funambules
La Chatte amoureuse
The appeal of the physical stage
The appeal of mime
The needs of ‘mise en scène’
Conclusion
4 Laughing at or with colonialism?
Conquest colonialism
Slavery
The noble savage
Interspecies comparisons
Conclusion
5 Deburau in the literature of his lifetime
Théophile Gautier
Bertrand’s Gaspard de la nuit
Balzac’s metaphors and mute scenes
Balzac’s Théorie de la démarche
Social realism and political engagement
Conclusion
6 Deburau’s legacy
The response to Deburau’s death
Champfleury’s Realist pantomimes
Political pantomime
Children’s literature
The poet-Pierrot; Gautier, Banville and Baudelaire
Fin-de-siècle prose and theatre
Fin-de-siècle poetry
Les Enfants du paradis
Marcel Marceau
Conclusion
Select bibliography
Pantomimes performed at the Théâtre des Funambules
Other primary literature
Secondary literature
Index
