''La Double Inconstance'' is a three-act romantic

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

by French playwright

Marivaux Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux (4 February 1688 – 12 February 1763), commonly referred to as Marivaux, was a French playwright and novelist. He is considered one of the most important French playwrights of the 18th century, writing nume ...

. Its title is usually translated into English as ''The Double Inconstancy''. ''La Double Inconstance'' was first performed 6 April 1723 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, a young woman is kidnapped from her lover by the prince of the country, who loves her and intends to marry her. Through ruse and disguises, the prince and a trusty female servant manage to break up the relationship, resulting in two marriages. Like many of Marivaux's other comedies, ''La Double Inconstance'' makes use of

stock characters A stock character, also known as a character archetype, is a fictional character in a work of art such as a novel, play, or a film whom audiences recognize from frequent recurrences in a particular literary tradition. There is a wide range of st ...

from the

Commedia dell'arte (; ; ) was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is also known as , , and . Charact ...

. In this play,

Arlequin Arlequin may refer to: * Harlequin, also spelled Arlequin, a comic servant character * Arlequin (band), a Japanese rock band * Arlequin (software), population genetics software * L'Arlequin, a cinema in Paris * Los Arlequíns, Mexican pro-wrestl ...

and

Trivelin Trivelino (or Trivelin) is a zanni character of the ''commedia dell'arte''. Trivelino is similar to Arlecchino, like him, he represents a stupid servant or valet. Trivelino is also similar to Scapin, Brighella, or Mezzetin. This character was ...

are featured.

Plot summary

Silvia is a young peasant girl who loves and is loved by Arlequin. Prior to the opening of the play, the prince meets her and instantly falls in love with her. He pretends to be a simple officer of the prince and befriends her. He is required by law to marry a commoner, so he sends his forces to kidnap her. The play opens with Silvia in the palace, pining for her lover, Arlequin, who has also been brought to court. A female servant of the prince, Flaminia, devises a plan to separate the two lovers. She appeals to Silvia's vanity, by suggesting that she needs a more worthy lover. The prince, still disguised as the officer of the palace, continues to be her friend; and Silvia soon realizes that he is a better catch than Arlequin. Meanwhile, Flaminia befriends Arlequin and gradually seduces him away from Silvia. However, both Arlequin and Silvia feel indebted one to the other and are reluctant to separate. When the prince finally reveals himself, both Arlequin and Silvia are relieved to know that they have an excuse to call off their engagement. The play ends with the union of the two couples: Silvia and the prince, and Flaminia and Arlequin.

Characters

* The prince * Silvia - a young peasant girl, engaged to Arlequin, but beloved by the prince * Harlequin/Arlequin - a young peasant, engaged to Silvia * Flaminia - a clever woman who is the prince's servant * Lisette - Flaminia's less clever sister *

- a male servant * A nobleman * Various servants

Adaptations

The play ''La Double Inconstance'' was adapted into a 1968 Made-for-TV movie in France. The play ''La Double Inconstance'' is rehearsed as a play within the film in Jacques Rivette's ''Gang of Four'' In 1983, BBC Television produced the play as ''Infidelities'' for the ''

Play of the Month ''Play of the Month'' is a BBC television anthology series, which ran from 1965 to 1983 featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays (or adaptations) which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different wor ...

'' series, starring

Charlotte Rampling Tessa Charlotte Rampling (born 5 February 1946) is an English actress, known for her work in European arthouse films in English, French, and Italian. An icon of the Swinging Sixties, she began her career as a model. She was cast in the role ...

and

Robin Askwith Robin Mark Askwith (born 12 October 1950) is an English actor and singer who has appeared in a number of film, television and stage productions. Making his film debut as Keating in the film '' if....'' (1968), a role he would reprise in ''Brita ...

External links

*
La Double Inconstance
on the French sit

1723 plays Plays by Pierre de Marivaux {{18thC-play-stub