The Shopkeeper Turned Gentleman

The Shopkeeper Turned Gentleman is the work called Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, which an opening note says was acted before the King for the first time at Chambord, on October 14, 1670. The opening note adds that after the second representation, Louis XIV said to the play's author that he had never written anything which amused him more, and that the play was excellent. The opening note also says that the three first acts are the best, and that Louis XIV hurried the author so with the last that they degenerated into burlesque.

One scene brings together Mr. Jourdain, in a dressing-gown and night-cap, with the music master, the dancing master, the pupil of the music master, a lady singer, two men singers, dancers and two servants. The speaker labelled MR. JOUR. says that his tailor told him that people of quality are dressed like this in the morning. A speaker labelled MRS JOUR. asks what the meaning of all this is and says that they say you want to give your daughter in marriage to a mummer.