COMÉDIE-FRANÇAISE, Twenty-fifth Anniversary of *Femmes d'Auj - Lot 128

COMÉDIE-FRANÇAISE, Twenty-fifth Anniversary of *Femmes d'Aujourd'hui* (1933–1958). A Review of *L'École des Femmes* and *Le Misanthrope*. Salle Richelieu, April 1958. Quarto, paperback with illustrated cloth-bound cover, with silk cord. An elegant commemorative publication issued on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the periodical *Femmes d'Aujourd'hui*, celebrated at the Comédie-Française in April 1958 with performances of two of Molière’s masterpieces: *La Critique de l’École des Femmes* and *Le Misanthrope*. This deluxe program attests to the influence of the Comédie-Française in postwar France and the importance placed on major national cultural celebrations. The volume reproduces the casts of the performances staged at the Salle Richelieu under the direction of Jean Meyer and Pierre Dux, bringing together several of the Comédie-Française’s greatest members and resident actors of the time, including François Chaumette, Michel Le Royer, Jacques Dumesnil, Gisèle Casadesus, Marie Sabouret, Françoise Engel, and Henri Tisot. The book is enriched with a carefully curated collection of illustrations evoking the history of the two plays, their early editions, their premieres in the 17th century, and their theatrical success over the centuries. An essay by Jean-Jacques Gautier recounts the circumstances surrounding the premiere of *La Critique de l’École des Femmes* and the famous controversy sparked by Molière’s triumph. The typographic design, high-quality paper, embossed cover adorned with a medallion of Molière, and silk binding cord lend this publication a particularly refined character. It serves as an interesting testament to French theatrical life in the 1950s and to the history of the Comédie-Française. Copy preserved in its original slipcase. A few scattered foxing spots on the covers; interior is fresh and well-preserved. A charming commemorative publication by the Comédie-Française, combining theater history, Molière-themed illustrations, and memories of a major cultural celebration in 1950s France.