About the work
Monsieur de Pourceaugnac is a three-act comédie-ballet by Molière with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and choreography by Pierre Beauchamp. It premiered for the court of Louis XIV at the Château of Chambord on 6 October 1669, followed by a public premiere at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris on 15 November 1669.
Plot
The provincial nobleman Monsieur de Pourceaugnac is due to marry Julie, who secretly loves the Parisian Éraste. With the help of the wily Sbrigani, the couple stage a series of deceptions: women claim to be married to Pourceaugnac, and he is eventually accused of abducting Julie. Confused and humiliated, Pourceaugnac withdraws, leaving Julie and Éraste free to marry with her father's blessing.
Cultural significance
Performed repeatedly at court and in Paris during Molière's lifetime, the play later inspired operatic and theatrical adaptations and ranks among his most successful comédies-ballets.