La Foire de Guibray explained

La Foire de Guibray
Characters:Arlequin
Pierrot
Scaramouche
a judge
an Italian actor
two actresses
a musician
Setting:Guibray Fair in Falaise
Premiere:1714
Place:Foire de Saint Laurent, France
Orig Lang:French

La Foire de Guibray (English: The Guibray Fair) is a one-act farce by Alain-René Lesage. It was first performed at the Foire de Saint Laurent in 1714. La Foire de Guibray is actually a prologue to two other one-act farces, Arlequin Mahomet and Le Tombeau de Nostradamus. Between the three works, Lesage created a comedy in three acts.

Plot summary

Arlequin and Scaramouche come to the Guibray Fair in order to steal things from merchants. When Scaramouche talks about how scared he is of the judge of the town, Arlequin suggests that they disguise themselves as Arab actors to avoid suspicion.

Meanwhile, the judge and Pierrot are walking through the fair, watching the various theatrical and musical acts. An Italian actor offers to entertain the judge, when Arlequin walks up and proposes his own play. The judge suggests a competition between the two. Arlequin will perform Arlequin Mahomet, and the Italian will perform Le Tombeau de Nostradamus.

Characters