Les dispositifs ludiques dans les théâtres d᾿enfants à la fin du XVIIIe siècle : le cas du Théâtre des Beaujolais au Palais Royal
Résumé
This article investigates the aesthetic and scenic aspects of the Théâtre des Beaujolais at the
end of the 18th century, one of the four Parisian theaters for children actors during that period. While the
system of privileges constrains theatrical activity in France, this theater proposes to innovate by relying
on its architectural specificities: children play pantomime while adults sing for them, creating an
auditory and visual illusion; furthermore, the musical dramaturgy calls upon the cultural memory of the
spectators to make the show work. Child actors, illusion and musical effects: this theater is a nice
illustration of the strong links that unite spectacle and ludism during the Enlightenment.