Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Coquelin, Benoît Constant" to "Costume"

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Coquelin, Benoît Constant" to "Costume" - Volume 7, Slice 4

COQUELIN, BENOT CONSTANT (1841-1909), French actor, known as Coquelin an, was born at Boulogne on the 23rd of January 1841. He was originally intended to follow his fathers trade of baker (he was once called un boulanger manqu by a hostile critic), but his love of acting led him to the Conservatoire, where he entered Regniers class in 1859. He won the first prize for comedy within a year, and made his dbut on the 7th of December 1860 at the Comdie Franaise as the comic valet, Gros-Ren, in Molires Dpit amoureux, but his first great success was as Figaro, in the following year. He was made socitaire in 1864, and during the next twenty-two years he created at the Franais the leading parts in forty-four new plays, including Thodore de Banvilles Gringoire (1867), Paul Ferriers Tabarin (1871), mile Augiers Paul Forestier (1871), Ltrangre (1876) by the younger Dumas, Charles Lomons Jean Dacier (1877), Edward Paillerons Le Monde o lon sennuie (1881), Erckmann and Chatrians Les Rantzau (1884). In consequence of a dispute with the authorities over the question of his right to make provincial tours in France he resigned in 1886. Three years later, however, the breach was healed; and after a successful series of tours in Europe and the United States he rejoined the Comdie Franaise as pensionnaire in 1890. It was during this period that he took the part of Labussire, in the production of Sardous Thermidor, which was interdicted by the government after three performances. In 1892 he broke definitely with the Comdie Franaise, and toured for some time through the capitals of Europe with a company of his own. In 1895 he joined the Renaissance theatre in Paris, and played there until he became director of the Porte Saint Martin in 1897. Here he won successes in Edmond Rostands Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), mile Bergerats Plus que reine (1899), Catulle Mends Scarron (1905), and Alfred Capus and Lucien Descaves LAttentat (1906). In 1900 he toured in America with Sarah Bernhardt, and on their return continued with his old colleague to appear in LAiglon, at the Thtre Sarah Bernhardt. He was rehearsing for the creation of the leading part in Rostands Chantecler, which he was to produce, when he died suddenly in Paris, on the 27th of January 1909. Coquelin was an Officier de lInstruction Publique and of the Legion of Honour. He published LArt et le comdien (1880), Molire et le misanthrope (1881), essays on Eugne Manuel (1881) and Sully-Prudhomme (1882), LArnolphe de Molire (1882), Les Comdiens (1882), LArt de dire le monologue (with his brother, 1884), Tartuffe (1884), LArt du comdien (1894). ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 32182
Author: Various
Release Date: Apr 29, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English