Francis BLANCHE, with wit and firmness, lambastes Le Canard enchaîné. 1960.

Francis BLANCHE (1921.1974)

Autograph letter signed to Ernest Raynaud, known as Tréno.

Two quarto pages on blue paper.

Paris, October 27 [1960]

"We hadn't counted on Le Canard enchaîné, which is bound neither by professional courtesy nor by the invitations it receives."

Francis Blanche did not appreciate the criticisms in Le Canard enchaîné of Félicien Marceau's play, L'Étouffe-chrétien, in which he played the role of Nero. With firmness and wit, he made his feelings known to the editor of the satirical newspaper, Ernest Raynaud, known as Treno.

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Dear Treno, Not very consistent! Not consistent at all to attack your colleagues at other newspapers just to slam your own colleagues while they're working. We were hoping, on November 4th, at the dress rehearsal, to present a well-rehearsed "Christian Stuffing," one that met the public's expectations… but we hadn't counted on Le Canard enchaîné, which is bound neither by professional courtesy nor by the invitations it receives.

It's very rude to go into the kitchen when the table is set in the dining room! Personally, I wouldn't have done it. Thank you anyway, and best regards – with reservations! Francis Blanche.

P.S. When Marceau writes "I peel it with a knife," he doesn't mean "as Breffort would say" but "as Nero would say," which amounts to pretty much the same thing. Cf. Suetonius: et "morari" producta prima syllaba jocabatur (playing on the word "morari," lengthening its first syllable). No, decidedly, not very classy of you!!!

Okay, I agree with the defamatory comparison between the coin and the duck… Got it?

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Félicien Marceau's play, L'Étouffe-chrétien, was created at the Renaissance Theatre on October 21, 1960. Francis Blanche played the role of Nero and Arletty that of Agrippina.

The actor was furious about the article in Le Canard published on Wednesday, October 26, 1960, and took up his pen the very next day to make his feelings known. He criticized Treno for his tactlessness and hasty judgments on a play still in development, the dress rehearsal of which was scheduled for November 4: " It's very rude to go into the kitchen when the table is set in the dining room!"

Despite Francis Blanche's defense of the author Félicien Marceau, the play was severely criticized, notably by Bertrand Poirot-Delpech in Le Monde on November 7 : "What matters is the spectator's impression: yet, far from experiencing this simplistic disappointment, he suffers to the point of disgust from the lapses in taste inflicted upon him, which nothing can justify [...] Francis Blanche's intelligence consoles him for the insipid enormities he is made to utter."