The Madwoman of Chaillot
| The Madwoman of Chaillot | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Jean Giraudoux |
| Characters | The Waiter, The Baron, Pierre, The President, The Prospector, The Street Singer, The Ragpicker, The Broker, Irma, Countess Aurelia, The Sergeant, The Sewer Man, Mme. Constance, Mme. Gabrielle, Mme. Josophine, The Presidents, The Prospectors, The Press Agents |
| Date premiered | 19 December 1945 |
| Place premiered | Théâtre de l'Athénée Paris |
| Original language | French |
| Subject | rights of the poor |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | The Cafe de l'Alma in the fashionable Chaillot quarter of Paris |
The Madwoman of Chaillot (French: La Folle de Chaillot, pronounced [la fɔl də ʃajo]) is a two-act play, a poetic satire, by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, written in 1943 and first performed in 1945, after his death. The story concerns an eccentric Parisian woman and her struggles against the straitlaced authority figures in her life.
The original production was done with Giraudoux's frequent collaborator, actor and theater director Louis Jouvet, who played the Ragpicker. French actress Marguerite Moreno was the inspiration for the piece. The play has frequently been revived in France, with the title role played by Edwige Feuillère, Madeleine Robinson, or Judith Magre.