Pierre Marivaux – författare

Marivaux's light-hearted comedies of love and intrigue are enjoying a vigorous revival One of the most original of French eighteenth century dramatists, Marivaux wrote over thirty comedies of love and intrigue. This, the only major single-volume selection of Marivaux's plays in English, brings together five full-length and five shorter pieces in lively translations by John Bowen, Michael Sadler, John Walters, Donald Watson and Nicholas Wright.

Contains five works from the classical period of French theatre - "The Cid", "Phedra", "Tartuffe", "The Lottery of Love" and "The Marriage of Figaro".

You'd laugh if I treated you with the respect I feel.An eligible suitor has been found for Sylvia but, determined to judge him for herself, she swaps roles with her maid. Meanwhile the suitor and his manservant have the same idea. Before long each believes they are fatally attracted to their social opposite. Sylvia's well-intentioned father looks on as the two couples attempt to make sense of their desires and ultimately lose themselves to love. From eighteenth-century France, John Fowles transports us to Regency England in this elegant adaptation of Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, Marivaux's greatest comedy. The Lottery of Love premiered at the Orange Tree, Richmond, in March 2017.This book contains an introduction by John Fowles.

Are you really surprised to discover that a woman might have a mind of her own?When Lélio thinks he can ditch and cash in on the rich woman he has promised to marry, in order to become the husband of an even wealthier 'girl from Paris', he enlists the help of his attractive new friend, the Chevalier.What he doesn't know is that the Chevalier is none other than this same 'girl from Paris' disguised as a man, and that her project is to publicly expose the depths of his sexual cynicism.A self-declared 'modern', Marivaux is a pioneer in the exploration of human feeling, asking in this play not only what do we hide from others? - but what are we hiding from ourselves?Martin Crimp's version of Pierre Marivaux's The False Servant received its premiere at the National Theatre, London, in 2004 and was revived at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, in June 2022. 'Marivaux's scepticism, irony and fascination with money and sex make him seem peculiarly modern.' Guardian'Thrills, chills, and belly laughs - this addictively adult comedy has got the lot.' Daily Telegraph

Are you really surprised to discover that a woman might have a mind of her own?When Lélio thinks he can ditch and cash in on the rich woman he has promised to marry, in order to become the husband of an even wealthier 'girl from Paris', he enlists the help of his attractive new friend, the Chevalier.What he doesn't know is that the Chevalier is none other than this same 'girl from Paris' disguised as a man, and that her project is to publicly expose the depths of his sexual cynicism.A self-declared 'modern', Marivaux is a pioneer in the exploration of human feeling, asking in this play not only what do we hide from others, but what are we hiding from ourselves?Martin Crimp's version of Pierre Marivaux's The False Servant received its premiere at the National Theatre, London, in 2004 and was revived at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, in June 2022. 'Marivaux's scepticism, irony and fascination with money and sex make him seem peculiarly modern.' Guardian'Thrills, chills, and belly laughs - this addictively adult comedy has got the lot.' Daily Telegraph

Lucidor, fils d’un riche bourgeois, tombe malade. Il est recueilli par une famille modeste, dont la fille, Lucile, s’occupe de lui avec un grand dévouement. Lucidor est séduit par la charmante jeune femme et songe à l’épouser. Mais il veut s’assurer auparavant que l’amour de la belle n’est pas intéressé…

« L’inconstance en amour vient-elle de l’homme ou de la femme ? ». Tel est le sujet de cette pièce, qui relate une expérience menée sur quatre enfants, deux garçons et deux filles, isolés dans une forêt dès leur naissance. Puis on les laisse sortir de leur environnement, afin qu’ils découvrent le monde, et que l’on puisse tirer les conclusions de cette expérience et répondre à la question initiale.

Arlequin et Lélio décident de s’isoler à la campagne et d’oublier les femmes qui leur ont à tous les deux joué de mauvais tours. Mais la cuisinière de Lélio souhaite épouser Pierre, le serviteur d’une Comtesse veuve. Ce mariage doit être autorisé par les deux maîtres qui se rencontrent alors. Ces deux derniers ne cessent de se disputer concernant l’attitude des femmes et des hommes en amour. Mais Arlequin et Colombine, la suivante de la Comtesse, vont les aider à prendre conscience des sentiments qu’ils éprouvent en réalité l’un pour l’autre.

Éraste et Orgon veulent unir leurs enfants, Damis et Lucile. Ces derniers ne se connaissent pas et sont contre ce mariage. Mais ils tombent amoureux l’un de l’autre dès qu’ils se rencontrent. Ils se jurent cependant mutuellement qu’ils ne cèderont pas à la volonté de leurs pères et que ce mariage n’aura pas lieu. Leur orgueil les empêche de revenir sur ce serment. Pour sauver les apparences, Lucile encourage Damis à séduire sa sœur Phénice, mais cette dernière tombe réellement amoureuse de Damis. Lucile et Damis réussiront-ils à faire face à leur orgueil avant que le mariage entre Damis et Phénice ne soit annoncé ?