The XVIIIth century; its institutions, customs, and costumes France, 1700-1789 . ing to the ancient repertory. Madame de Maintenontwice offered him in compensation, a reminiscence as it were of thedramatic performances once held in such high favour, when Racinewrote at her request Esther and Athalie for the young ladieseducated at St. Cyr (1689 and 1691). These two tragedies werenot very attractive when compared to the earlier pieces of Racineand Molieres comedies, as played by the leading actors of thetheatres of the Palais-Royal and the Hotel de Bourgogne. Madamede Maintenon, who did not lik


The XVIIIth century; its institutions, customs, and costumes France, 1700-1789 . ing to the ancient repertory. Madame de Maintenontwice offered him in compensation, a reminiscence as it were of thedramatic performances once held in such high favour, when Racinewrote at her request Esther and Athalie for the young ladieseducated at St. Cyr (1689 and 1691). These two tragedies werenot very attractive when compared to the earlier pieces of Racineand Molieres comedies, as played by the leading actors of thetheatres of the Palais-Royal and the Hotel de Bourgogne. Madamede Maintenon, who did not like to appear in public, had the theatrebrought to her own apartments, and St. Simon says that the Kingoften came there to witness religious plays such as Absolon,Athalie, etc., the principal characters being represented by theDuchesse de Bourgogne, the Due dOrleans, the Comte and theComtesse dAyen, the young Comte de Noailles, and Mile, de 388 2HE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. Melun, under tlic direction of Baron. There was only room forforty spectators at these dramatic Fig. 255.—Section showing the height and breadth of the Opera built at the Palais-Royal, byMoreau, after the designs of Radel, stage-machinist of the Paris Opera. Paris possessed only two theatres at this date, the RoyalAcademy of Music and the Theatre Frangais. The representationsof the Italian comedians, who had settled at the theatre of the H6tel THE THEATRES. 389 de Bourgogne, in the Rue Mauconseil after the two royal troupes hadbecome incorporated into one at the theatre in the Rue Guenegaud(1680), were prohibited after the production of a piece called La


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