Chapter I: Front Matter

The Art of Being Bored
a Comedy in Three Acts:
by Edouard Pailleron:
Translated by Barrett
H. Clark

Samuel French: Publisher
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Samuel French, Ltd.
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=The Art of Being Bored.= (Le Monde ou l’on s’ennuie). A comedy in 3 acts. By Edouard Pailleron. 11 men, 9 women. Probably the best-known and most frequently acted comedy of manners in the realm of 19th century French drama. It is replete with wit and comic situations. For nearly forty years it has held the stage, while countless imitators have endeavored to reproduce its freshness and charm. Price 50 cents.

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The
ART OF BEING BORED

_A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS_

BY
EDOUARD PAILLERON

_Translated by_
BARRETT H. CLARK

COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY SAMUEL FRENCH

NEW YORK
SAMUEL FRENCH
PUBLISHER
25 WEST 45TH STREET

LONDON
SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD.
26 SOUTHAMPTON STREET
STRAND

EDOUARD PAILLERON

The author of “Le Monde où l’on s’ennuie” was born at Paris in 1834. Besides this, his masterpiece, he wrote numerous comedies, sentimental and satirical. Pailleron is in no way concerned with problems or “ideas”; he is content to depict the foibles and affectations of society, framing his observations into a harmonious and unified whole. This play was first produced, at Paris, in 1881, and has since held the stage.

* * * * *

The scenery and costumes are modern.

Owing to the large number of characters, some attention must be paid to the grouping of stage pictures. The stage-directions, if carefully followed, will supply sufficient information to enable the director to group the actors without difficulty.

THE ART OF BEING BORED

PERSONS IN THE PLAY

BELLAC
ROGER DE CÉRAN
PAUL RAYMOND
TOULONNIER
GENERAL DE BRIAIS
VIROT
FRANCOIS
SAINT-RÉAULT
GAIAC
MELCHIOR DE BOINES
DES MILLETS
DUCHESSE DE RÉVILLE
MADAME DE LOUDAN
JEANNE RAYMOND
LUCY WATSON
SUZANNE DE VILLIERS
COUNTESS DE CÉRAN
MADAME ARRIÉGO
MADAME DE BOINES
MADAME DE SAINT-RÉAULT

SCENE: _A drawing-room in_ MADAME DE CÉRAN’S _château at_ SAINT GERMAIN.

The Art of Being Bored