Mlle. Fauteuil by Oliver Herford

Name: Mlle. Fauteuil
Author: Oliver Herford

The narrative centers on a character known as Mlle. Fauteuil, a personified piece of furniture, specifically a chair, navigating the challenges of a theatrical career. Despite her appealing design and charm, she remains largely unnoticed in the bustling environment of a Broadway theater. The story unfolds through the perspective of a property man who recounts Mlle. Fauteuil's misadventures during rehearsals and performances. Initially positioned in a seemingly appropriate spot on stage, Mlle. Fauteuil quickly becomes a source of frustration for the actors, particularly the Leading Lady, who insists on her relocation due to obstructing the flow of the scene. This leads to a series of unfortunate placements, each resulting in further mishaps. Mlle. Fauteuil is repeatedly moved around the stage, only to find herself in positions that continue to interfere with the actors' movements. Her plight culminates in a disastrous incident where she is thrown into the orchestra pit, sustaining damage that symbolizes her struggle for recognition and respect in a world that prioritizes human actors over inanimate objects. After a brief recovery, she is placed in a less visible position, where she remains unnoticed yet safe from further interference. The narrative highlights the absurdity of the theatrical world, where even a chair must conform to the whims of the actors and the demands of the script. The story serves as a commentary on the nature of performance, the hierarchy within the theater, and the often-overlooked contributions of non-human characters. Ultimately, it suggests that the furniture must not outshine the actors, reinforcing the idea that the stage is a realm where human talent is paramount, even at the expense of the inanimate.

By Oliver Herford · First published 1910 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Drama · 705 words

First lines

It is harder for a table or chair to behave naturally on the stage than for a camel to be free and easy in a needle's eye, or for Mr. Rockefeller to get into Heaven (or Hell? ) with the money.

What can be more pathetic than the spectacle of a helpless young chair or table or settee starting on a stage career shining with gilt varnish and high ambition to reflect in art's mirror the drawing-room manners of the furniture of real life.

What this Textopian page supports

Mlle. Fauteuil is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1910 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Oliver Herford
Date: 1910 CE
Language: English
Genres: Satire, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Literary Fiction
Length: 705 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Mlle. Fauteuil?
How does this short story by Oliver Herford fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Satire first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Satire — The work humorously critiques the absurdity of theatrical conventions and the roles of inanimate objects, highlighting the ridiculousness of their situations.
Comedy — The narrative employs humor and light-hearted situations involving furniture, creating a comedic portrayal of their struggles in a theatrical setting.
Drama — The story reflects the dramatic tensions and conflicts faced by the characters, albeit in a unique context involving furniture.
Fantasy — The anthropomorphism of furniture gives the story a fantastical element, allowing inanimate objects to have thoughts and experiences.