©Comédie-Française 2005
 
 
             

Sarah Bernhardt  		  THE ADMINISTRATORS' ERA

Under Édouard Thierry's management, the Company became homogenous, excelled with bourgeois comedy and brought fame to authors such as Banville, Ponsard and Émile Augier. During the Siege of Paris in 1870, the theatre foyer was converted into a field hospital, while the "sociétaire" (shareholding member) Edmond Got organised a tour to London to replenish the theatre's coffers in 1871.

  
 
The new Managing Director, Émile Perrin (1871-85), former Director of the Paris Opera, brought Paris high society to the Comédie-Française. A first-rate company of outstanding actors like Sarah Bernhardt, Jeanne Samary, Mounet-Sully, the Coquelin brothers, etc., performed plays by Hugo, Dumas fils, Pailleron, Coppée and Erckmann-Chatrian that were lavishly staged by the Managing Director himself. He also initiated the theatre subscription system.		  

Mounet-Sully 


Coquelin aîné  		 
During Jules Claretie's 28-year tenure (1885-1913) - the record to this day - the company experienced financial problems. Tragic actors surpassed the comic ones who had to deal with a contemporary repertoire dominated by the comedy of manners. In 1891, the creation of Victorien Sardou's Thermidor aroused passions in the midst of a Cabinet crisis. Later, works by Rostand, Jules Renard and Courteline entered into the repertoire.		  
 
After the tragic fire of 1900 during which the young "pensionnaire" (contracted actress) Jane Henriot died, the theatre was rebuilt. The show had to go on... 		 
 

Foundation • Theatremania • Revolution • Romanticism
Administrators • Stage Direction • "Cartel"
Repertoire • Challenges