The Two Pierrots, Or, the Supper in White

by Edmond Rostand

This three-hander was written by Edmond Rostand for performance by himself and his friends in the garden of the Rostand family's summer villa in Luchon, in the French Pyrenees. At 20, Edmond was not sure whether to be a poet or a playwright. This playlet was to decide his career, for it was to prove his entree into French theatre."

Genres: French Literature

36 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2015

About the author

People know light, entertaining works, particularly Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), of French playwright Edmond Rostand.

Neo-romanticism associates poet and dramatist Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand. His romantic plays provided an alternative to the popular naturalistic theatre during the late 19th century. People adapted "Les Romanesques" as the highly successful musical comedy "The Fantasticks."

The Académie Française elected this youngest writer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_...

Reviews

[Watashi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Through two characters, play explores human nature: White and Black Pierrot. White Pierrot embodies pure side of humanity — naivety, friendliness, and joy. Black Pierrot represents caution, distrust, and skepticism.

Entire play is built around dialogue, as its structure is designed to present two perspectives. The “prism” through which these perspectives are viewed is dinner and food itself. White Pierrot approaches everything somewhat lightly, while Black Pierrot reflects on nearly every action. Play also includes three other characters: maid, host, and fox. However, main idea of the work is to show human nature as whole through dinner. It is fairly simple idea, but to be fair, play reads easily and remains engaging.

For those who are not very familiar with plays, this work is recommended as starting point.