Molière(1622-1673)
- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Born between January 13 and January 15 of the year 1622, from a 25yo
tapestry-maker, Jean Poguelin (who worked for the King of France from
1631), and a 20yo woman, Marie Cresé, in Paris, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin
lost his mother when he was 10. From 1638 to 1640, he studied in the
Jesuit college of Clermont, then started a brief lawyer career and
pursued his father's work under Louis XIII, especially in Narbonne,
until the King's death in 1643, when Jean-Baptiste co-founded
L'Illustre Théâtre, installed at the jeu de paume des Métayers
(faubourg Saint-Germain, Paris). He chose his nom-de-plume Molière in
1644 but his company had some financial difficulties due to a lack of
success: Molière was imprisoned twice in 1645 for debts. The troupe
moved several times in different parts of France (Lyon, Grenoble,
Dijon, Narbonne...) and they became the troupe of the Prince de Conti
in 1653 (in Pézenas, Languedoc).
In 1654, Molière presented his first play, "L'Etourdi", in Lyon, then
"Le Dépit amoureux" in Béziers in 1656. But the same year the troupe
lost its grants from de Conti, who was becoming extremely unfavorable
to theater creation. Back to Paris in 1658, under the protection of the
King's brother, they played "Nicomède" and "Le Docteur amoureux" at the
Vieux-Louvre in front of the King (Louis XIV) and his court. Louis XIV
offered Molière to play at the Petit-Bourbon where his first 2 plays
eventually had great success. In 1659, Molière presented his third
play, "Les Précieuses Ridicules". After his younger brother's death,
Molière re-took in charge the familial tapestry-making business and
kept it until his death. The same year, he presented "Sganarelle ou le
Cocu imaginaire" and the troupe was moved to the Palais-Royal. Rival
comedians tried to divide Molière's troupe but failed. Molière
successively presented "L'Ecole des maris" in 1661 and "L'Ecole des
femmes" in 1662.
He married Armande Béjart in 1662 (the year Molière and his troupe were
accepted at the King's court), they had a son Louis in 1664 (Louis XIV
was his godfather) but the latter died before his first birthday. The
same year, members of the Compagnie du Saint-Sacrement tried to ban
Molière's play "Le Tartuffe" but it was shown in May. Molière's troupe
also presented Jean Racine's first play "La Thebaïde" then "Alexandre" the
following year, but the troupe learnt that Racine made his play been
performed elsewhere too, which brought a tension between the two
authors. Armande gave birth to their daughter Esprit-Madeleine in 1665.
Molière premiered "Dom Juan" in 1665, "Le Misanthrope" and "Le Médecin
malgré lui" in 1666. In 1667 the troupe plaid Pierre Corneille's "Attila" and
Molière's "L'Imposteur", which was only presented once because
immediately banned. Molière had his first health problems. The troupe
presented "Amphitryon", "George Dandin" and "L'Avare" in 1668,
"Tartuffe" again in 1669 (the year Molière's father died), "Le
Bourgeois Gentilhomme" in 1670, "Les Fourberies de Scapin" and "Psyché"
in 1671, "Les Femmes savantes" in 1672.
Molière had a quarrel with Jean-Baptiste Lully in 1672 over the right of using
music in plays since Lully ruled the music utilization with his
"académie royale de musique". Molière's second son,
Pierre-Jean-Baptiste-Armand, was born the same year but died a few days
after his baptism. In February 1673, during the 4th performance of his
last play, "Le Malade Imaginaire", Molière fell and died a few hours
later in his house (rue de Richelieu, Paris). His wife obtained from
the King the right to bury his corpse in a cemetery, which was normally
unauthorized for a comedian. Her daughter was his only child to live
long enough to have children but didn't, therefore Molière had no
direct descendants.
tapestry-maker, Jean Poguelin (who worked for the King of France from
1631), and a 20yo woman, Marie Cresé, in Paris, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin
lost his mother when he was 10. From 1638 to 1640, he studied in the
Jesuit college of Clermont, then started a brief lawyer career and
pursued his father's work under Louis XIII, especially in Narbonne,
until the King's death in 1643, when Jean-Baptiste co-founded
L'Illustre Théâtre, installed at the jeu de paume des Métayers
(faubourg Saint-Germain, Paris). He chose his nom-de-plume Molière in
1644 but his company had some financial difficulties due to a lack of
success: Molière was imprisoned twice in 1645 for debts. The troupe
moved several times in different parts of France (Lyon, Grenoble,
Dijon, Narbonne...) and they became the troupe of the Prince de Conti
in 1653 (in Pézenas, Languedoc).
In 1654, Molière presented his first play, "L'Etourdi", in Lyon, then
"Le Dépit amoureux" in Béziers in 1656. But the same year the troupe
lost its grants from de Conti, who was becoming extremely unfavorable
to theater creation. Back to Paris in 1658, under the protection of the
King's brother, they played "Nicomède" and "Le Docteur amoureux" at the
Vieux-Louvre in front of the King (Louis XIV) and his court. Louis XIV
offered Molière to play at the Petit-Bourbon where his first 2 plays
eventually had great success. In 1659, Molière presented his third
play, "Les Précieuses Ridicules". After his younger brother's death,
Molière re-took in charge the familial tapestry-making business and
kept it until his death. The same year, he presented "Sganarelle ou le
Cocu imaginaire" and the troupe was moved to the Palais-Royal. Rival
comedians tried to divide Molière's troupe but failed. Molière
successively presented "L'Ecole des maris" in 1661 and "L'Ecole des
femmes" in 1662.
He married Armande Béjart in 1662 (the year Molière and his troupe were
accepted at the King's court), they had a son Louis in 1664 (Louis XIV
was his godfather) but the latter died before his first birthday. The
same year, members of the Compagnie du Saint-Sacrement tried to ban
Molière's play "Le Tartuffe" but it was shown in May. Molière's troupe
also presented Jean Racine's first play "La Thebaïde" then "Alexandre" the
following year, but the troupe learnt that Racine made his play been
performed elsewhere too, which brought a tension between the two
authors. Armande gave birth to their daughter Esprit-Madeleine in 1665.
Molière premiered "Dom Juan" in 1665, "Le Misanthrope" and "Le Médecin
malgré lui" in 1666. In 1667 the troupe plaid Pierre Corneille's "Attila" and
Molière's "L'Imposteur", which was only presented once because
immediately banned. Molière had his first health problems. The troupe
presented "Amphitryon", "George Dandin" and "L'Avare" in 1668,
"Tartuffe" again in 1669 (the year Molière's father died), "Le
Bourgeois Gentilhomme" in 1670, "Les Fourberies de Scapin" and "Psyché"
in 1671, "Les Femmes savantes" in 1672.
Molière had a quarrel with Jean-Baptiste Lully in 1672 over the right of using
music in plays since Lully ruled the music utilization with his
"académie royale de musique". Molière's second son,
Pierre-Jean-Baptiste-Armand, was born the same year but died a few days
after his baptism. In February 1673, during the 4th performance of his
last play, "Le Malade Imaginaire", Molière fell and died a few hours
later in his house (rue de Richelieu, Paris). His wife obtained from
the King the right to bury his corpse in a cemetery, which was normally
unauthorized for a comedian. Her daughter was his only child to live
long enough to have children but didn't, therefore Molière had no
direct descendants.