Less than a century ago Paris contained but four theatres. These were,
the French Comedy, the Royal Academy of Music or Grand Opera, the
Italian Comedy, where vaudevilles and comic operas were performed, and
the Theatre de la Foire. The two last named were the ancestors of the
present Opera Comique. "Up to 1593," says Mr. Hervey, "the actors of the
Théatres de la Foire St. Germain and St. Laurent consisted of dogs,
cats, monkeys, and even rats, some of the latter animals being so
admirably trained as to dance a grand ballet on a table, whilst one in
particular, a white rat from Lapland, executed a saraband with
surpassing grace." In 1716 the manager of one of these theatres obtained
leave to give musical performances. This was the origin of the Opera
Comique, which, forty years later, was amalgamated with the Italian
comedy at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, whence, in 1783, the united companies
transferred themselves to the Salle Favart. To the four theatres above
enumerated, a few others were added during the reigns of Louis XV. and
his successor, but they were of little note, and the increase in the
number of theatrical establishments was unimportant until the
revolution. Then license was universal, and no special one was required
to open theatres. In 1791 a prodigious number were established, and, for
some years afterwards, nearly fifty, large and small, existed in Paris.
In the time of the empire twenty-eight of these remained, until Napoleon
issued an edict reducing them to ten. At the present day the French
capital contains twenty-two theatres, including the new Théatre
Montpensier, the privilege for which was conceded to Alexandre Dumas at
the request of the prince whose name it bears. Besides these there are a
number of petty playhouses outside the barriers, at Batignolles,
Belleville, and similar places, and Mr. Hervey informs us that a license
has just been granted for a third French opera-house. Play-loving as the
population of Paris undoubtedly is, it must be admitted that ample
provision is made for its gratification.