|
Post by Theatre Lover on Apr 26, 2020 0:12:47 GMT
At the Office of Chevalier Pierre Dimont, Director of the Theatre Royal. Early May...
First Voice: As I told you last month, Madame, since you have no prior connection at all with the theatrical world I can see no useful purpose whatsoever in issuing you with a licence to form a theatrical company at this time.
Second Voice: Ah, but I do now have a connection to the theatrical world, Chevalier Pierre.
First Voice: And what connection might that be, Madame ?
Second Voice: I am providing Monsieur Eau with the props for his forthcoming production of Privates, Stand to Attention which will be staged here in June.
First Voice: So you have become Monsieur Eau's patron?
Second Voice: Not as such, Chevalier, I'm merely doing what I can to ensure the success of his first production. I also have a mind to compose a ballet over the coming months, when I've found an accomplished composer with whom to collaborate. Baroness Genevieve DuPoint seems quite thrilled at the prospect...
First Voice: Be that as it may, Madame, I still don't see...
Second Voice: You do realise that I'm the consort of Monsieur le Vicomte de Gravilles, the Secretary of State, who will be presenting me to Her Majesty when she holds Court at the Tuilleries in June? I'm sure Her Majesty will be most interested to learn how opposed you are to ladies playing any part in the theatrical life of Paris...
First Voice: That certainly isn't the case, Madame! You can assure Her Majesty...
Second Voice: Then why are you refusing me a licence to found a theatrical company, Chevalier? Is my money not as good as everyone else's...?
First Voice: ...I believe Monsieur le Vicomte is to host a ball towards the end of this month, Madame?
Second Voice: Indeed he is, Chevalier. I'm sure that he would be delighted to extend invitations to your good lady and yourself were I to recommend it...
First Voice: How kind...Well, having given careful consideration to all aspects of your application, Madame, I have indeed decided to allow it. For whom should your future company be named ?
Second Voice: I have no patron at present, Chevalier Pierre. Perhaps the Company could operate under the name of 'Les Comediens du Marais' until a patron can be found...?
|
|
|
Post by Theatre Lover on Apr 28, 2020 13:51:54 GMT
At A Fine House On The Rue du Coq...
First Voice: Must you visit for two weeks, rather than one? I was hoping to attend the envoy reception this week, but I daren't show myself at the Tuilleries without a lady on my arm in case Her Majesty comes to hear of it...
Second Voice: There just wouldn't be time to secure anything suitable to wear, Roland, as well you know. And there are a few things I really must arrange with Uncle Philippe...I mean my adoptive Father...as soon as possible. It's important to stay for a reasonable time initially, so as to show that I'm not just interested in them for their money - and it could take two weeks to finally nail the old skinflint down on a reasonable allowance. At the same time I want to make it clear to him that having a new daughter doesn't mean that she'll forever be at his beck and call...
First Voice: You haven't forgotten that we must both attend Court at the end of the month?
Second Voice: No, of course not Roland. When I return I'll be seeing almost as much of my dressmaker as I shall of Madame Duschene! Thank you again for offering to pay for my new court garb, by the way.
First Voice: Oh it's no trouble, My Sweet, even if you are going to be an heiress now...
Second Voice: An heiress...? Yes, I suppose I am. Do you think I should prepare myself to rebuff the advances of a string of fortune hunters...?
|
|
|
Post by Private Ayes on Apr 28, 2020 14:16:52 GMT
From the penny pamphlet, “The True-Life Adventures of Mssr. J.B.”:
“Monsieur Lieutenant,” pleaded the commanding officer of the Royal Dragoons, “I beg up to take up appointment as my adjutant! I have so badly mismanaged the regiment that I fear for the safety of my commission!”
“Fear naught, Monsieur Colonel!” replied Mssr. J.B., “For I have rescued many an estate from ruin. Whipping this regiment into shape will be child’s play for one of my skill and intelligence!”
“Oh, Thank You!” cried the Colonel as he dropped to his knees a kissed Mssr. J.B.’s hand in gratitude, “But we have been on the frontier so long! Our depot is bare and our coffers empty!”
“A trifling matter,” Mssr J.B. waved dismissively, “The minister of finance is a personal friend of mine and owes me a favor.”
True to his word, monies for new uniforms, equipment, and mounts flowed to the regiment. Regulations and ordinances were enforced as never before, improving the regiment’s organization and efficiency. The field camp became the envy of other regiment commanders. Under Mssr. J.B.s direction, the regimental taskmasters engaged in training the troopers to march, ride and fight in perfect formation, their sabers flashing in the sunlight.
“Your regiment is the pride of all France!” declared a noble from a nearby estate.
“I thank you, Monsieur,” declared the Colonel, “but all accolades are due to my adjutant, Lieutenant J.B.!”
“You are a credit to your family!” cried the nobleman.
“Everything I do is in service to King and Country!” Mssr. J.B. deferred as he snuggled close to the nobleman’s beautiful daughter.
|
|
|
Post by Theatre Lover on Apr 30, 2020 8:50:43 GMT
At A Fine House On The Rue du Coq...
First Voice: Well, let's waste no time in finding out, shall we ? I have a little surprise for you...
Second Voice: Why Roland! It's beautiful !! But how...?
First Voice: Jeanne, your housekeeper, loaned me one of your dresses so that the seamstresses could take measurements from it. She took some persuading, I'll tell you ! Wouldn't accept the five livres I offered her and wouldn't part with a dress until convinced that I had no nefarious motive in mind.
Second Voice: Even so, I think I should have words with her. Going behind my back is not something I wish to encourage...
First Voice: Oh don't go too hard on her. Even when I told her it was all so I could take you on surprise visit to Court she said she'd have to sleep on it.
Second Voice: Even so...still, it is a beautiful dress! I can't wait to try it on!
First Voice: Well, get to it My Sweet. The reception begins in a couple of hours.
Second Voice: But what about your Government Meeting at the end of the month? I told you I couldn't spare time for more than one visit to Court thin month...?
First Voice: Oh, I've decided to spare you the Government business. You'd have only got bored anyway. The reception should be much more...appropriate.
Second Voice: It looks like I'll have to postpone the visit to my adoptive until later in the month...
First Voice: Excellent! You get into your frock while I don my Court attire and collect my carriage. Your coach is fine for day-to-day, but a six horse team is the style in which one should arrive at the Tuilleries....
[Later...]
Third Voice: Oooh Madame! I don't know how you do it! I could have sworn myself that you had no inkling that Monsieur le Vicomte planned to take you to the reception. You should go on the stage Ma'am, you really should!
Second Voice: It's funny you should mention that Jeanne. It's a notion to which I've been giving serious consideration of late...
|
|
Romain Rochfoucauld
Guest
|
Post by Romain Rochfoucauld on May 1, 2020 16:59:31 GMT
Dubious decisions cause devastating Defeat!
Exclusively by your roving reporter, Romain Rochefoucauld, for the Courtly Inquirer, the obtrusive observer of life at court and elsewhere
"Are they mad?" shouted an undisclosed officer from the Provence regiment, when he learned of the deployment for the Summer Campaign. "First they let us march up here to the north. In the winter. And now we have to return to the south within days, to replace the Picardy Musketeers. Who on the other hand have to march north to replace us here? No wonder that we cannot win the wars we are fighting. The incomptence in the high ranks is only outdone by the idiocy of my wife. Now she sends me warm clothes. In the summer. When we are marching to the south. Mon dieu!" Similarly were the reactions throughout the lower ranks to this decision. Only two Privates admitted, that their outrage might have to do with the fact, that most of the troops had come to terms with the inhabitants around the front line, who supplied them with extra rations. And in some cases they even had been on very friendly terms with some of the female population. If you ask me, this excesses among the Provence regiment could clearly be the main reason for the heavy losses during the last months. On the other hand, it is hard to understand, why one regiment has to move in a forced march from north to south, while another regiment will have to do a forced march from south up to the northern border. Well, that happens when the clergy is involved in military matters. The General Staff did not respond to any questions of the Courtly Inquirer. What do they hide? What purpose does such a decision fulfil? However, the Flanders frontier has a major problem with command. Either the staff is incompetent in general. Or the commanding staff in Flanders loses control over the troops. Hopefully the Summer Campaign will see a better command. As usual, we will keep you, our most valued readers, informed of any further developments at the frontier. Salut from Calais!
|
|
|
Post by Fellow Mourner on May 4, 2020 17:56:19 GMT
One day in Late May at the Apothecary's Shop on the Pont St.Michel...
First Voice: Why, Helen ! I thought it was Thursday when we were going to St Denis with Madame la Vicomtesse ?
Second Voice: So it is, Maman. I've got some news that just won't wait.
First Voice: What is it ?
Second Voice: Uncle Philippe has finally adopted me formally.
First Voice: So I am no longer legally your Maman?
Second Voice: You'll always be the Monther of my heart, Maman. But I think it was my illegitimacy and lack of family money that was preventing Roland from proposing...
First Voice: You expect a proposal quite soon now?
Second Voice: Well, Roland is to present me at Court next week, which is a good sign, and Madame la Comtesse Yvonne De Villepin has been dropping heavy hints that he should 'make an honest woman of me'...
First Voice: Who would have thought that a daughter of mine would become a Vicomtesse !! Oh, I'm so happy for you, Helen !
Second Voice: I'm not there yet, Maman...
First Voice: No, but I'm sure you will be. I'll come to the church service of course - I wouldn't miss seeing a daughter of mine married - but it might be best if I stayed away from the wedding reception, don't you think? I don't want to generate any confusion regarding who your 'mother' is...
Second Voice: Thank you, Maman. I'll make sure Father Martin is invited too, so that you can catch up in person after the service.
First Voice: Oh, that would be wonderful !! Will you be picking me up at the usual time on Thursday ?
Second Voice: I will, but that's my other news. I'll take you to her mansion but I won't be going to St Denis with you and the Vicomtesse this week. It wouldn't be seemly to continue in her service if I become a Vicomtesse myself and there are some affairs I have to put in order in case I do resign my position shortly... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to get her to ensure her smaller estates went to you upon her death. Perhaps it's her age, but although she doesn't want her brother to get anything, she positively refuses to do anything to stop it...
First Voice: Never mind, Helen, I know you tried your best. Perhaps the silly old fruitcake will remember us in her will...?
|
|
|
Post by gaston on May 8, 2020 9:31:06 GMT
Madame Helen Bacque, to Her Royal Highness Princess Christine Marie of Savoy Greetings
Your Royal Highness,
As requested I am smoothing the path of Signorina Baroni while she is in Paris. She is most grateful for the interest and consideration being shown to her. Naturally I will keep Your Royal Highness informed of her progress and of any further developments.
Your Royal Highness' Most Loyal and Devoted Servant,
Helen Bacque
|
|
|
Post by Ball Guest on May 8, 2020 9:35:20 GMT
After The Ball...
First Voice: Signorina Baroni? Thank you for playing so beautifully.
Second Voice: You are too kind, Madame, and I know that you flatter me. My playing was barely passable, I'm afraid. It was my first public performance in Paris and I fear that my nerves got the better of me. I wish that my playing could have been worthy of the beautiful dancing on the part of Monsieur le Vicomte and yourself.
First Voice; You are too kind, Signorina Baroni. I trust that your teaching at the College of St Michel went more smoothly?
Second Voice: Please Madame, call me Leonora. Yes, I was most pleased by its reception. There is a lot of interest in Italian Music and I am to deliver a further lecture next month.
First Voice: Excellent ! I'm delighted to see that you are settling in amongst us so comfortably. Tell me, Leonora, how familiar are you with ballet ?
Second Voice: Not as familiar as I'd like to be, Madame. I don't dance nearly so well as yourself, but it's a form I have a great interest in and, it's fair to say, the chance to see the King's Men perform in some ballets was the main reason I chose to complete my musical studies in Paris, rather than Madrid, London or Antwerp.
First Voice: Have you any interest in composing music for ballet? If so, I may have a commission for you...
|
|