Guy de MAUPASSANT wishes to cancel the performance of Musotte.

Guy de Maupassant (1850.1893)

Autographed telegram letter signed to Mr. Carré, director of the Vaudeville.

One page in-12° on green paper with serrated edges.

Autograph address. [Paris. February 20, 1891 – postmark].

"The play I did with Mr. Normand will not be shown at the Gymnase."

A few days before the premiere of Musotte , Maupassant, injured, wanted to cancel the performance at the Théâtre du Gymnase.

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“Dear Sir, following a heated discussion I just had with Mr. Koning [Victor Koning, director of the Théâtre du Gymnase] concerning a matter which offended me, the play I wrote with Mr. Normand [the writer Jacques Normand] will not be performed at the Gymnase , although it is completely ready to be staged. Perhaps it will go to the Vaudeville. Please accept my sincere regards. Guy de Maupassant.”

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Musotte owes its origin to Jacques Normand who, as early as 1889, adapted Maupassant's tale L'Enfant .

At the beginning of 1890, he wrote to his mother: "I promised Koning, director of the Gymnase, that I would revive the play that Normand adapted from my story 'L'enfant'. Koning, who is the most skillful of the directors in Paris, believes in a great success for this play next winter…"

A few months later, the relationship between Koning and Maupassant deteriorated due to various disagreements. Normand, caught between these two strong personalities, had to redouble his efforts to be understanding – “ I then spent the treasures of a diplomacy I had previously thought myself incapable of. ” – in order to save the theatrical project.

After several complications (as evidenced by our letter) the play was created at the Gymnase on March 4, 1891 and achieved a resounding success, much to the surprise of Maupassant himself.

Bibliography: Guy de Maupassant . Marlo Johnston. Fayard.