Charles Maurice Donnay (12 October 1859 – 31 March 1945) was a French

dramatist A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

Biography

Donnay was born of middle-class parents in Paris in 1859. His father was a railway engineer and initially Donnay followed a similar profession, studying at the

École centrale des arts et manufactures École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Savoi ...

in 1882. With

Alphonse Allais Alphonse Allais (20 October 1854 – 28 October 1905) was a French writer, journalist and humorist. Life Allais was born in Honfleur, Calvados (department), Calvados. He died in Paris. Work He is the author of many collections of whimsical writ ...

, Donnay started by writing material for the celebrated cabaret ''le Chat noir''. Donnay made his serious debut as a dramatist on the little stage of

Le Chat Noir Le Chat Noir (; French for "The Black Cat") was a nineteenth-century entertainment establishment, in the bohemian Montmartre district of Paris. It was opened on 18 November 1881 at 84 Boulevard de Rochechouart by the impresario Rodolphe Salis, ...

with ''Phryne'' (1891), a series of Greek scenes. This was followed by ''Lysistrata'', a four-act comedy, was produced at the Grand Théâtre in 1892 with

Gabrielle Réjane Gabrielle Réjane (), ''née'' Gabrielle Charlotte Réju (6 June 1856 – 14 June 1920), was a French actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The daughter of a former actor, Réjane studied at the Conservatoire national supérieur d'ar ...

in the title part. With ''Amants'' in 1895 he won a great success, and the play was hailed by

Jules Lemaître François Élie Jules Lemaître (27 April 1853 – 4 August 1914) was a French critic and dramatist. Biography Lemaître was born in Vennecy, Loiret. He became a professor at the University of Grenoble in 1883, but was already well known for his ...

as the ''Bérénice'' of contemporary French drama. It was the first work of a series called . His plays were performed by famous actors including Cécile Sorel, Réjane et Lucien Guitry. They showed what was at the time advanced ideas on the relationship between the sexes, and used everyday language in their dialogue. On 14 February 1907, Donnay was elected a member of the Académie française, replacing Albert Sorel.

Works

Donnay's plays included: *''Phryné'' (1891) *''Lysistrata'' (1892), in collaboration with

Maurice Leblanc Maurice Marie Émile Leblanc (; ; 11 December 1864 – 6 November 1941) was a French novelist and writer of short stories, known primarily as the creator of the fictional gentleman thief and detective Arsène Lupin, often described as a French c ...

(Act II, scene 7. However, Donnay would not admit it.) *''Folle Entreprise'' (1894) *''Pension de famille'' (1894) *''Complices'' (1895), in collaboration with M. Groselande *''Amants'' (1895), produced at the Renaissance theatre with Mme

Jeanne Granier Jeanne Granier (31 March 1852 – 18 or 19 December 1939) was a French soprano, born and died in Paris, whose career was centred on the French capital.Gänzl K. Jeanne Granier. In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera.'' Macmillan, London and ...

as Claudine Rozeray *''La Douloureuse'' (1897) *''L'Affranchie'' (1898) *''Georgette Lemeunier'' (1898) *''Le Torrent'' (1899), at the Comédie Française *''Éducation de prince'' (1900) *''La Clairière'' (1900) *''Oiseaux de passage'' (1904), in collaboration with

Lucien Descaves Lucien Descaves (16 March 1861– 6 September 1949) was a French novelist. Selected works * ''Le Calvaire de Héloïse Pajadou'' (1883) 'Héloïse Pajadou's Calvary.'' Sunny Lou Publishing , 2021 Further reading * * External links * ...

*''La Bascule'' (1901) *''L'Autre danger'', at the Comédie Française (1902) *''Le Retour de Jérusalem'' (1903) *''L'Escalade'' (1904) *''Paraître'' (1906) Comédie-Française with

Berthe Cerny Berthe Cerny (born Françoise Berthe-Hélène-Lucie de Choudens; 31 January 1868 – 27 March 1940) was a French actress, known as an elegant blonde beauty. She had a brilliant career, interpreting both classical and contemporary roles. She had se ...

as Christiane Margès *''Le Ménage de Molière'' (1912) *''Les Éclaireuses'' (1913) *''L'Impromptu de Paquetage'' (1916) *''Le Théâtre aux armées'' (1916) He also published some wartime essays and addresses: *''La Parisienne et la Guerre'' (1916) *''Premières Impressions après'' (1917) *''Lettres à la Dame Blanche'' (1917) *''Pendant qu'ils sent à Noyon'' (1917) *''La Chasse à l'Homme'' (1919)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donnay, Charles Maurice 1859 births 1945 deaths Writers from Paris 19th-century French dramatists and playwrights 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights Lycée Louis-le-Grand alumni École Centrale Paris alumni Members of the Académie Française