description La Main passe Overview
"La Main passe" is a one-act French farce by Georges Feydeau, first performed in 1904, that exemplifies the playwright's mastery of the bedroom farce genre and his characteristic use of rapidly escalating complications. The plot centers on a husband whose attempt to confront his wife's lover sets off a chain of misunderstandings that draw additional characters into increasingly absurd situations. Like Feydeau's other works, it relies on precise timing, physical comedy, and the systematic unraveling of bourgeois respectability. Feydeau wrote it during his most productive period, when he was creating some of the most performed comedies in the French theatrical repertoire.
help La Main passe FAQ
Who wrote the play La Main passe?
"La Main passe" is a one-act French farce written by the renowned playwright Georges Feydeau. It was first performed in 1904, right at the peak of Feydeau's career. The play perfectly exemplifies his mastery of the classic bedroom farce genre.
What is the plot of La Main passe?
The plot centers on a husband whose attempt to catch his wife's suspected lover spirals out of control. Like most of Feydeau's works, it relies heavily on rapidly escalating complications, mistaken identities, and frantic physical comedy. The narrative is a classic example of how one small deception can lead to chaotic misunderstandings.
How long is the play La Main passe?
Unlike Feydeau's more famous full-evening farces like *A Flea in Her Ear*, "La Main passe" is structured as a short, fast-paced one-act play. This concise format was typical of his later works and was designed to keep the audience laughing with continuous, high-energy stage business. It is usually performed in under an hour.
What genre of theater is La Main passe?
The play belongs to the classic French *vaudeville* or bedroom farce genre. It utilizes the trademark farce formula of marital infidelity, hidden lovers, and slamming doors. Feydeau was the undisputed master of this genre during the Belle Époque period in Paris.
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