A play in 7 scenes for the toy theatre
about Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous visit to Sancerre
(with his first donkey, the talkative Célandine)

This drama has been specially created to mark 450 years since the terrible Siege of Sancerre, January to August 1573, by the writer and artist, sancerrois et brexilée, CHARLOTTE CORY.

THE PLOT

Scene 1 – the arrival of Stevenson and Célandine on the quayside at St Thibault, beside the Loire, during the annual dinner held on the first Saturday in August when all the inhabitants bring their food out to eat together in the fresh air. An aimiable peasant insists he sit down to eat with them and Stevenson samples Christophe’s famous fritures. The peasant then points out the Medieval hilltop town of Sancerre and tells him about the terrible siege of the Protestant stronghold in 1573. To Célandine’s annoyance he decides to set off up the steep hill at once in search of a toy theatre drama he is desirous of writing for the Grand Visitoria Theatre in Covent Garden, London

Scene 2 – Stevenson encounters Louis Malfuson, a notable notaire of the town, of Scots descent (the Malfusons having been frenchified the Scots name “Macpherson” in the Place du Connetable, Sancerre. He is the grandson of Abraham Francois Malfuson, author of an authoritive work on the history of the siege. Stevenson explains he has been unable to find a bed for the night on account of his donkey. All the aubergistes of Sancerre have unceremoniously turned them away. Malfuson invites him as a fellow Scot to stay the night, share a whiskey and talk about the Siege. Meanwhile, he says, the donkey can stay in the courtyard with his “dog”, who is in actual fact, none other than The Last Wolf of Sancerre.

Scene 3 – The two men discuss the siege all night. Even Stevenson who is eager for details about the siege for the play he is thinking of writing, eventually tires.

Scene 4 – The two animals in the courtyard are kept awake by their Masters yacking. The wolf tells Celandine that his master often invites people to stay so that he can bore them about the siege. Celandine explains that his master is never bored. He is gathering material for a play he intends to write. The wolf says he would do better to write his story because he is none other than the Last Wolf living incognito with Monsieur Malfuson.

Scene 5 – Stevenson finally gets to bed and because of all the talk of the siege he has a frightful nightmare. The siege rages all around him

Scene 6 – After the terrible night, Stevenson wakes up determined to get on and write his play. He bids farewell to Malfuson and thanks him for his hospitality. The wolf reminds Célandine of her promise to get him the starring rôle in the drama

Scene 7 – We are now in the offices of the Grand Visitoria Theatre, Covent Garden, London. The Director receives a big parcel covered in French stamps. It is a drama from Robert Louis Stevenson himself. He has been promising this drama for years -the Director reads it quickly. This is going to be a sure fire success. He calls in the stage designer, Dobbs and tells him they are going to do Le Siege de Sancerre and must have cannons, smoke, turrets, ramparts and a wolf! Dobbs asks when this all needs to be done by? Tomorrow says the director. Dobbs naturally wonders how on earth he is going to get hold of a wolf who can act at such short notice.
As the final curtain falls we hear a happy wolf howling…

THE END

La Voix du Sancerrois – August 2023