Or maybe not so crazy, considering how lightly historical accuracy is regarded in this movie, but whatever.
So, the movie is said to be taking place in 1879, but we choose to set it in 1883 (via @tvitr) for the sake of improving its logic by the tiniest degree.
Real-life Louis Mérante was born in 1828 and died in 1887, making him 51/55 years old in the movie timeline – while his adaptation looks to be 30.
Real-life Louis Mérante was married to a ballerina Zinaida Richard (1832-1890). They married in 1861, so 18/22 years prior to the film. I couldn’t find any information as to whether or not they had children (I speak neither French, nor read Russian).
As I pondered these facts, an idea hit me – would it be slightly more historically accurate if we chose to treat the Louis Merante from the movie not as THE Louis Mérante, but as Louis Mérante JUNIOR? Louis and Zinaida’s son? A Louis Louisovich?
If they had had him before the official wedding date (things sometimes happen), he could be in late 20-ties in the movie.
Perhaps this is a farfetched idea, but not half-as farfetched as Félicie’s jeans shorts or Victor’s pigeon wings ^_^.