Florent Carton (Dancourt) facts for kids
Florent Carton (also known as Dancourt) was a famous French actor and writer of plays. He was born on November 1, 1661, in Fontainebleau, France. He passed away on December 7, 1725.
Dancourt came from an important family. His parents wanted him to become a priest and sent him to study with a Jesuit teacher named Pere de la Rue. However, Dancourt wasn't interested in a religious life. Instead, he decided to study law.
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Becoming a Star Actor
After studying law, Dancourt worked as a lawyer for a while. But his life changed when he married the daughter of a well-known actor, Francois Lenoir de la Thorilliere. This marriage led him to become an actor himself.
In 1685, even though his family didn't approve, Dancourt joined the Theatre Francais. He was a natural comedian and quickly became very popular with both the audience and his fellow actors. He was often chosen to speak for his acting company at important events. This meant he frequently performed for King Louis XIV, who liked him very much.
His Famous Plays and Characters
Dancourt was not only a great actor but also a talented writer. He wrote about 60 plays! His first play, Le Notaire obligeant, came out in 1685 and was well-received. Another successful play was La Désolation des joueuses (1687).
Many people consider Le Chevalier à la mode (1687) to be his best work. In this play, he created a funny character: a middle-class woman who desperately wanted to be part of the rich, noble class. He explored this type of character further in plays like Les Bourgeoises de la mode (1692) and Les Bourgeoises de qualité (1700). He also adapted a famous novel into a play called Le Diable boiteux (1707).
Later Life and Legacy
A few years before he passed away, Dancourt stopped acting and writing. He retired to his home in Courcelles le Roi. There, he spent his time translating religious songs (Psalms) into poetry and writing a serious play about a religious topic.
Dancourt's plays are very important because they show us what life was like in France during his time. He was very good at creating realistic characters, especially people from everyday life and even farmers. His plays were known for their clever, funny, and natural conversations. Many of his stories were based on real events and people from the lively and sometimes scandalous society of that period. Most of his plays were more like funny short comedies (farces) than serious dramas.
The famous writer Voltaire once said that Dancourt was to short comedies what another writer, Regnard, was to more serious comedies. This means Dancourt was a master of his style!
His Talented Daughters
Dancourt's talent for the stage also ran in his family. His two daughters, Manon and Marie-Anne (who was called Mimi), both became successful actresses at the Théâtre Francais, just like their father.
