Mounet-Sully

Jean Sully Mounet , known as Mounet-Sully , born with Bergerac the February 27th 1841 and died in Paris on March 1st 1916, is a Acteur French, tragic actor.

Biography

Resulting from a middle-class family which intended it to become lawyer, he preferred to follow his vocation and to become actor. After one year of studies to the Academy, it began with the Odéon in 1868, where it had only small roles.

At the time of the war of 1870, it was affected as lieutenant in the Dordogne. Of return to Paris, Odéon closed its doors to him. Thanks to the support of its former Master to the Academy, it entered then to the Comédie-Française. It began there on July 4th 1872 in the role from Oreste. The public applauds it, but criticism remained reserved, reproaching him its play too not very conventional.

He played then the great parts of the repertory: Rodrigue in Cid , Néron in Britannicus , Hippolyte in Phèdre , Orosmane in Zaire . Criticism gradually became more enthusiastic. It arrived at its apogee in 1881 in Oedipus king, played in the ancient theater of Orange, where the subjugated public had a vision of what could be the ancient beauty.

In 1882, family concern and a disease of the eyes held it some time far away from the scene, and its play felt some. But success returned shortly after. In 1885, it puts in scene a more modern version of Britannicus which carries the adhesion of the public. He plays Néron, Marguerite Durand is Junie, Albert Lambert Britannicus. In 1886, it knew a new triumph by renewing the role of Hamlet. It had then many roles, as well in the traditional repertory as modern.

The Comédie-Française had known to assess its qualities very early, and it became member about it as of 1874. He was also the senior starting from 1894, after the departure of Got.

In 1914, when the war burst, its statute of senior led it to defend the interests of the Comédie-Française whereas part of the troop was mobilized, and that it became difficult to play. Although old of more than seventy years, he still played of time to other. Thus, in April 1915, one saw it in one of the roles which had contributed the most to its success of the years before, that of Polyeucte. It was its last role.

Its play was been useful by remarkable physical qualities: an imposing stature, harmonious gestures, a major glance, a very beautiful voice. The size of its play enabled him to become one of the most famous tragic actors of its time.

It had a high idea of its art, and unceasingly sought to tend towards the perfection. It thus renewed the art of the tragic actor, who had not known such an upheaval since Talma. Against Diderot and to sound Paradox on the Actor , Mounet-Sully thought that the actor was to give up his personality while going up on scene, to be entirely let absorb by its role.

He is also the author of a part in five acts: the Drinker of tears , and two pieces of poetry: Gygès and the old age of Don Juan .

His/her brother, Paul Mounet, which was doctor of medicine, also became member of the Comédie-Française.

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