About the work
La poupée is an opéra comique in a prologue and three acts by Edmond Audran, with a libretto by Maurice Ordonneau loosely based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Sandman". It premiered on 21 October 1896 at the Théâtre de la Gaîté in Paris.
Plot
To raise money for his impoverished monastery, the monk Lancelot plans to substitute a lifelike doll for a rich uncle's daughter and claim her dowry. When the real daughter takes the doll's place herself, she falls in love with Lancelot, who then leaves the monastery and marries her.
Cultural significance
After 121 performances in Paris, La poupée became an international hit, above all in London, where it ran for 576 performances at the Prince of Wales's Theatre from 1897; it ranks among Audran's last major stage successes.