The Romancers: A Comedy in Three Acts

Produced by Kent Cooper
THE ROMANCERS (Les Romanesques)
Comedy in Three Acts by EDMOND ROSTAND
Translated by Barrett H. Clark 1915
Edmond Rostand was born at Marseilles in 1868. Rostand is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant dramatic poets of modern times. Les Romanesques — The Romancers —was performed for the first time in Paris, at the Comedie Francaise, in 1894, and achieved considerable success. Its delicacy and charm revealed the true poet, and the deftness with which the plot was handled left little doubt as to the author's ability to construct an interesting and moving drama. But not until the production of Cyrano de Bergerac in 1897 did Rostand become known to the world at large. L'Aiglon (1900) was something of a disappointment after the brilliant Cyrano. Ten years later came Chantecler, the poet's deepest and in many ways most masterly play.
The Romancers is best played in the romantic atmosphere of the late Eighteenth century; the costumes should be Louis XVI. The stage-directions are sufficiently detailed. ]


Persons in the Play
SYLVETTE PERCINET STRAFOREL BERGAMIN (Percinet's father) PASQUINOT (Sylvette's father) BLAISE (A gardener) A WALL (Not a speaking part) Swordsmen, musicians, negroes, torch-bearers, a notary, four witnesses, and other supernumeraries.
The action takes place anywhere, provided the costumes are pretty.