La Grange (actor)
Encyclopedia
La Grange whose real name was Charles Varlet, was a French
actor
and a member of the troupe of Molière
.
in 1634 and moved to Montpelier
in 1636, where they had a son, Achille Varlet (born 17 December 1636) and a daughter, Justine-Françoise (born 14 May 1638). After the birth of their daughter they left Montpelier. The birth date of Charles is not well established, but is thought most likely to be near the end of 1639, or possibly early in 1640. The family was in Paris in 1642 (Achille and Justine were baptised at the Église de Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs on 12 February 1642), but not long after the children lost their parents and became orphans.
(1665) and Molière's Dom Juan
(1666), as well as Acaste in Molière's The Misanthrope
(1666).
La Grange also acted as the company's secretary and historian, creating a register of all plays performed as well as receipts and other commentary on matters affecting the company. These documents are an important source of information for scholars interested in the period. In 1664 (or 1667) La Grange replaced Molière as the Orator, the company member who addressed the audience and introduced the plays.
. Ragueneau had apparently first become associated with the company in 1660 as the chambermaid of the actress Mademoiselle de Brie, and later began to play small parts, possibly beginning as Marotte, but soon followed by Georgette in Molière's L'École des femmes in 1663. She created the title role in Molière's La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas in 1671. Marie Ragueneau was the daughter of Cyprien Ragueneau, a pastry chef, who is now chiefly remembered as a character in the 1898 play Cyrano de Bergerac
by Edmond Rostand. Not long after her marriage to La Grange she became an official member of Molière's company, receiving a one-half share and in 1680 was one of the founding members of the Comédie-Française
, along with her brother-in-law, Achille, who was also an actor, known as Verneuil.
. When the troupe merged with the players of the Hôtel de Bourgogne
in 1680 forming the Comédie-Française, he became the new company's Orator. In 1682 he edited and wrote the preface of the first collected edition of Molière's plays.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and a member of the troupe of Molière
Troupe of Molière
Molière's company was the theatrical company which formed around Molière from 1648 onwards. It followed his Illustre Théâtre and disappeared in 1680, seven years after his death, upon its merger with the troupes of the théâtre du Marais and the Hôtel de Bourgogne, giving birth to the...
.
Early life
Charles Varlet was the son of Hector Varlet and Marie de La Grange. The couple apparently married in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1634 and moved to Montpelier
Montpelier
Montpelier or Montpellier is the name of several places:in Canada:* Montpellier, Quebec* Montpellier , a train station in Montreal, Canadain France:* Montpellier, a city in southern France** The University of Montpellierin Ireland:...
in 1636, where they had a son, Achille Varlet (born 17 December 1636) and a daughter, Justine-Françoise (born 14 May 1638). After the birth of their daughter they left Montpelier. The birth date of Charles is not well established, but is thought most likely to be near the end of 1639, or possibly early in 1640. The family was in Paris in 1642 (Achille and Justine were baptised at the Église de Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs on 12 February 1642), but not long after the children lost their parents and became orphans.
Career with the Molière company
La Grange joined Molière's company in 1659, soon after they had returned to Paris from touring the provinces. Being young and attractive, he was the jeune premier and generally played Molière's lovers, roles which as Charles Dickens, Jr., has written are "among the least interesting of his personages." Later La Grange played more versatile parts such as the title roles in Racine's Alexandre le GrandAlexandre le Grand
Alexandre le Grand is a tragedy in 5 acts and verse by Jean Racine. It was first produced on December 4, 1665 at the Palais Royal Theater in Paris. The subject of the play is the love of Alexander and the Indian princess Cleofile complicated by intrigues between her brother Taxilus and his ally...
(1665) and Molière's Dom Juan
Dom Juan
Dom Juan or The Feast with the Statue is a French play by Molière, based on the legend of Don Juan. Molière's characters Dom Juan and Sganarelle are the French counterparts to the Spanish Don Juan and Catalinón, characters who would later become familiar to opera goers as Don Giovanni and Leporello...
(1666), as well as Acaste in Molière's The Misanthrope
The Misanthrope
The Misanthrope is the first EP from metal band Darkest Hour. It was released in 1996 on the defunct label Death Truck Records. It is much more hardcore orientated metalcore unlike their later releases.- Track listing :# "Vise" - 5:30...
(1666).
La Grange also acted as the company's secretary and historian, creating a register of all plays performed as well as receipts and other commentary on matters affecting the company. These documents are an important source of information for scholars interested in the period. In 1664 (or 1667) La Grange replaced Molière as the Orator, the company member who addressed the audience and introduced the plays.
Marriage
On 25 April 1672, during the company's Easter break, La Grange married Marie Ragueneau de l'Estang (18 May 1639 – 2 February 1727), known as Marotte, after the chambermaid in Moliére's Les Précieuses ridiculesLes Précieuses ridicules
Les Précieuses ridicules is a one-act satire by Molière in prose. It takes aim at the précieuses, the ultra-witty ladies who indulged in lively conversations, word games and, in a word, préciosité ....
. Ragueneau had apparently first become associated with the company in 1660 as the chambermaid of the actress Mademoiselle de Brie, and later began to play small parts, possibly beginning as Marotte, but soon followed by Georgette in Molière's L'École des femmes in 1663. She created the title role in Molière's La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas in 1671. Marie Ragueneau was the daughter of Cyprien Ragueneau, a pastry chef, who is now chiefly remembered as a character in the 1898 play Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
by Edmond Rostand. Not long after her marriage to La Grange she became an official member of Molière's company, receiving a one-half share and in 1680 was one of the founding members of the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
, along with her brother-in-law, Achille, who was also an actor, known as Verneuil.
After Molière
Molière died in 1673 after which La Grange was instrumental in the rebuilding of the company during the transition to its new theatre at the Hôtel de GuénégaudHôtel de Guénégaud
-3rd arrondissement:At 60, rue des Archives, this Hôtel de Guénégaud was built between 1651 and 1655 for Jean-François de Guénégaud des Brosses, secrétaire du Roi, maître des Comptes and conseiller d'État, by François Mansart . It now houses the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature and the Club de la...
. When the troupe merged with the players of the Hôtel de Bourgogne
Hôtel de Bourgogne
Until the 16th century, the Hôtel de Bourgogne was the name of the Paris residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Today, the last vestige is the Tour Jean sans Peur, 20 rue Étienne Marcel, in the 2nd arrondissement.-Theatre:...
in 1680 forming the Comédie-Française, he became the new company's Orator. In 1682 he edited and wrote the preface of the first collected edition of Molière's plays.
Assessment
Samuel Chapuzeau, writing in 1674, described La Grange as an actor as follows:
La Grange is generally regarded, and rightly so, as a good actor in both serious and comic roles. Although of no more than medium build, he is well proportioned, and has a jaunty and relaxed manner, which gives a good impression even before he speaks. He succeeded Molière not only as orateur, but also in the concern he shows for the general well-being of the company, being both intelligent and trustworthy.
Sources
- Banham, Martin (1995). The Cambridge Guide to the Theatre, second edition. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521434379.
- Dickens, Charles (1885). "The Old French Theatre", in two parts. Part II, All the year round. A Weekly Journal., volume 36, pp. 5 to 11. London: Charles Dickens. View at Google Books.
- Hartnoll, Phyllis, editor (1983). The Oxford Companion to the Theatre, fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192115461.
- Howarth, William H., editor (1997). French Theatre in the Neo-Classical Era 1550–1789. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (2008 digital reprint: ISBN 9780521100878.)
- Thierry, Édouard, editor (1876). Charles Varlet de la Grange et son registre. Paris: Jules Claye. View at HathiTrustHathiTrustHathiTrust is a very large-scale collaborative repository of digital content from research libraries including content digitized via the Google Books project and Internet Archive digitization initiatives, as well as content digitized locally by libraries....
. - Young, Bert Edward, editor; Young, Grace Philputt, editor (1947). Le registre de La Grange: 1659–1685, two volumes. Paris: E. Droz. Catalog record at HathiTrustHathiTrustHathiTrust is a very large-scale collaborative repository of digital content from research libraries including content digitized via the Google Books project and Internet Archive digitization initiatives, as well as content digitized locally by libraries....
. (1977 facsimile edition: Geneva: Slatkine Reprints. .)