The Balcony
Balcony, The (Le Balcon) Author: Jean Genet
First Performance: 1957, London; 1960, Paris
Published: 1956; rev. 1960, 1962
First English Translation: 1958
Genre: Drama in 9 scenes; French prose
Setting: Brothel and café in a European city, mid-20th c.
Cast: 17m, 7f
A Bishop hears the confession of a scantily clad young woman. He is interrupted by Irma, the Madame of a brothel: the ‘bishop’ is a client acting out his fantasy. Meanwhile there are riots on the streets outside. In another room, a beautiful young thief is whipped by the Executioner and makes the Judge lick her feet. Elsewhere, a General rides on his prostitute like a horse and acts out his death in battle. The Chief of Police, Irma's former lover, now impotent but still her protector, comes in search of a fantasy Chief of...
[The entire page is 378 words long]
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