The history of the two major Parisian fairs of Saint Germain (which ran for a few weeks around Easter) and Saint Laurent (which ran during August and September) can be traced back to the twelfth century, but they were particularly successful in the latter part of the seventeenth and much of the eighteenth centuries. They featured, amongst other things, performing animals, marionettes, acting troupes, and acrobats, who sometimes also incorporated dramatic elements into their displays to give them a sense of unity. When the old Italian theatrical troupe, who had been resident in Paris during much of the seventeenth century, was banned by the king in 1697, the Fair actors saw a gap in the market and began to supply comedy in the style of …
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Citation: Connon, Derek Frederick. "Arlequin-Deucalion". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 August 2019 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38968, accessed 21 November 2024.]
