Description

HENRI SOMM'S COPY ILLUMINATED WITH ORIGINAL DRAWINGS. 

A very rare programme of the first real shadow show in France. Black Cat.

The adventure of the first Chat Noir cabaret (84, boulevard Rochechouart) came to an end in June 1885, when Rodolphe Salis moved to 12, rue Laval to set up L'Hostellerie du Chat Noir and transform his artistic cabaret into a social theatre. While it's not unusual to come across Claude Debussy or Erik Satie playing the piano on the ground floor, Henri Rivière's shadow theatre reigns supreme in the Salle des fêtes on the second floor.
On 28 December 1887, the first real shadow show opened, a series of 4 creations beginning with a contemporary adaptation by Henri Rivère of The Temptation of St Anthony - Grand spectacle fairy tale in 2 acts and 40 scenesx - follow-up Son of the Eunuch, drama in one act and six tableaux by Henry Somm, a Pantomime in one act by Willette :  The Golden Age,  andA game of whist, play in one act and prose by Sahib.

A fragile 8-page programme was distributed to the audience - a large sheet folded in four and illustrated with 5 black drawings by Henri Rivière, Henry Somm and Willette, with explanatory texts and a song.

The present copy bound by Carayon is that of Henry Somman eminent member of the Chat Noir who was also responsible for introducing theatre into the first cabaret (La Berline de l'émigré 1885) and author of the second play in the show.

Henri Somm has illustrated his copy with numerous original drawings in black and colour:

- a title page in watercolour, "Théâtre du Chat Noir"illustrated with a cat and a mouse
- a large signed watercolour in colour - 160 x 210 mm - elegant with a hat
- in the margins of the programme: 37 black drawings, sometimes in colour, depicting the characters in the plays, the theatre set and Henri Rivière manipulating the "shadows".
- The Pantomime l'Âge d'Or is illustrated on the text with 3 original black drawings signed by Willette.

The most desirable copy of this very rare programme.