
A modest parlor with a crackling fireplace, two armchairs, and a stubbornly ticking clock sets the stage for this lively domestic comedy. The audience meets a diligent wife, hunched over her handiwork, and a silent, slightly aloof husband whose entrance is marked more by timing than by fanfare. Their banter crackles as sharply as the fire, each line revealing a mix of affection and frustration.
The play’s humor springs from everyday irritations—a husband’s tardiness, a wife’s impatient waiting, and the absurdity of arguing over the exact hour. Their exchanges are witty and rapid, exposing a marriage where love is tangled with rivalry, and where a simple clock becomes a battlefield for pride. The dialogue dances between sarcasm and genuine longing, inviting listeners to laugh while recognizing the universal quirks of married life.
As the tension builds, the husband’s attempts to smooth things over grow increasingly inventive, and the wife’s retorts grow ever more pointed. The audience is left wondering whether the couple will find common ground or simply continue their spirited duel, all framed within a charmingly cramped room that feels both intimate and theatrical.
Language
fi
Duration
~15 minutes (14K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-05-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1847–1926
A lively figure in French theater, he wrote comedies, librettos, and novels that kept him close to the Paris stage for decades. His work moved easily between popular entertainment and literary society, making him a recognizable name in late 19th-century France.
View all books