| La Double Inconstance | |
|---|---|
 Title page from the first edition ofLa Double Inconstance | |
| Written by | Pierre de Marivaux |
| Characters | Le Prince Silvia Flaminia Arlequin Lisette Trivelin |
| Date premiered | 6 April 1723 (1723-4-6) |
| Place premiered | France |
| Original language | French |
| Subject | love, disguise |
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Setting | The prince's palace |
La Double Inconstance is a three-actromanticcomedy byFrench playwrightMarivaux. Its title is usually translated into English asThe Double Inconstancy.La Double Inconstance was first performed 6 April 1723 by theComédie Italienne. In this play, a young woman is kidnapped from her lover by the prince of the country, who loves her and intends to marry her. Through ruse and disguises, the prince and a trusty female servant manage to break up the relationship, resulting in two marriages.
Like many of Marivaux'sother comedies,La Double Inconstance makes use ofstock characters from theCommedia dell'arte. In this play,Arlequin andTrivelin are featured.
Silvia is a young peasant girl who loves and is loved by Arlequin. Prior to the opening of the play, the prince meets her and instantly falls in love with her. He pretends to be a simple officer of the prince and befriends her. He is required by law to marry a commoner, so he sends his forces to kidnap her.
The play opens with Silvia in the palace, pining for her lover, Arlequin, who has also been brought to court. A female servant of the prince, Flaminia, devises a plan to separate the two lovers. She appeals to Silvia's vanity, by suggesting that she needs a more worthy lover. The prince, still disguised as the officer of the palace, continues to be her friend; and Silvia soon realizes that he is a better catch than Arlequin. Meanwhile, Flaminia befriends Arlequin and gradually seduces him away from Silvia. However, both Arlequin and Silvia feel indebted one to the other and are reluctant to separate.
When the prince finally reveals himself, both Arlequin and Silvia are relieved to know that they have an excuse to call off their engagement. The play ends with the union of the two couples: Silvia and the prince, and Flaminia and Arlequin.
The playLa Double Inconstance was adapted into a 1968 Made-for-TV movie in France.The playLa Double Inconstance is rehearsed as a play within the film in Jacques Rivette'sGang of FourIn 1983, BBC Television produced the play asInfidelities for thePlay of the Month series, starringCharlotte Rampling andRobin Askwith.
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