Beaumarchais to Préville, 31 March 1784
French transcription
Paris ce 31 Mars 1784
Nous nous sommes trompés, tous les deux, mon vieil ami. Je tremblais que vous ne quittassiez le théâtre à Pâques ; et vous, mon vieil ami, vous étiez dans l'opinion que le Mariage de Figaro ne pouvait pas se jouer. Mais il ne faut jamais désespérer de garder un acteur que le public adore ni de voir vaincre un auteur courageux qui croit avoir raison et qui ne se dégoûte pas par les dégoûts. J'ai, mon vieil ami, le bon du Roi, le bon du Ministre, le bon du lieutenant de Police. Il ne manque plus que le vôtre pour voir un beau tapage à la rentrée. Allons mon ami. C'est bien peu de chose que ma pièce ; mais la voir au théâtre est le fruit de quatre ans de combats ; voilà ce qui m'y attache. Quel mal ils m'ont fait ces méchants ! Deux ans plus tôt, mon ami Préville aurait assuré le succès de mes cinq actes. Aujourd'hui le charme qu'il répandra sur un moindre rôle fera bien regretter qu'il ne joue pas le premier ! On me conseille l'étude et les répétitions sans éclat ; et nous sommes convenus d'agir, mais sans rien dire. D'azincourt et La Porte se sont chargés d'écrire à tout le monde, en recommandant le silence, afin que notre bonne fortune ne finisse pas encore une fois par en devenir une de capucin. Je vous salue, vous honore et vous aime. Beaumarchais
My translation
Paris, this 31 March 1784
We erred, both of us, my old friend. I was shaken when you departed the theatre at Easter; and you, my old friend, you were of the opinion that The Marriage of Figaro could not be performed. But one must never despair of keeping an actor that the public adores nor of seeing victorious a courageous author who believes he is right and who is not disgusted by disgusts. I have, my old friend, the approval of the King, the approval of the Minister, the approval of the lieutenant of police. Nothing more is needed except yours to see a great commotion at the start of the season. Come on, my friend. It’s not very much, my piece; but to see it on stage is the fruit of four years of battle; that is what attaches me to it. What wrong these villains have done to me! Two years ago, my friend Préville would have assured the success of my five acts. Today the charm that he will bring to a lesser role will make us regret that he does not play the lead! Study and rehearsals without brilliance are advised to me; and we have agreed to act, but not to say anything. D'azincourt and La Porte took it upon themselves to write to everyone, in recommending silence, so that our good fortune does not once again end up becoming that of the capuchin. I salute you, honour you and love you. Beaumarchais
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This letter was written just a few weeks before the first performance of Le Mariage de Figaro on 27 April 1784, and is filled both with Beaumarchais’s humour and his intensity. It’s addressed to the actor Préville, and gives an account of the struggles that Beaumarchais went through to get his play through the strict censorship board.
Préville was a well-known comic actor who originated the role of Figaro in Beaumarchais’s previous work, Le Barbier de Séville, in 1775. In this letter, Beaumarchais is lamenting that Préville will not retake the role, instead embodying a much lesser one - the judge Brid’oison. Préville was 63 at the time, and only a few years from his final retirement, which probably explains why he declined the demanding role.
