Pour le portrait de Mlle. Lecouvreur
The Drama Adrienne Lecouvreur
The drama, Adrienne Lecouvreur, by Scribe and Legouvé, was written in 1848. Owing to the changing political conditions of the time, its presentation was delayed until the following year. During this period it is probable that certain alterations and additions were made in the play. In its completed form it was given for the first time at the Théâtre-Français, April 14, 1849. The celebrated actress Mlle. Rachel appeared in the title rôle.
It is a so-called comédie-drame—a play in which there is a mingling of comic and tragic elements. It ends in tragedy.
The play deals sympathetically with the love of the talented Adrienne Lecouvreur, of the Comédie-Française, and Maurice, comte de Saxe (1696-1750). It portrays in a vivid and interesting way the rivalry and hostility of the Princesse de Bouillon and the tragic death of Adrienne.
The close connection of the plot with the Comédie-Française, where the entire second act takes place,[A] and the many literary allusions add much to the interest.
[A] The idea of a play within a play may possibly have been suggested by the tragedy of Saint Genest (1645) by Jean Rotrou (1609-1650).
The action takes place at Paris in the month of March, 1730.
Adrienne Lecouvreur is a skillfully written play. Francisque Sarcey (1827-1899) calls it “une pièce bien faite et très bien faite.” (Quarante ans de théâtre, IV, 261.) In general construction it is a compromise between the conflicting ideas of the classicists and the romanticists. This is evident in the treatment of the three unities. Unity of action is maintained, although several subordinate intrigues are suggested. Unity of place, in the strict sense, is disregarded, since the five acts occur in five different places. However, all are at Paris. Unity of time is essentially preserved, although its limits are somewhat exceeded.