The Blunderer

Molière's early comedy began its life on the stage in Lyon in 1653, when the playwright was touring the provinces with his company. Its Parisian debut came five years later, in November 1658, and it was received warmly by audiences there. The plot draws heavily on L'Inavvertito, an Italian comedy by Nicolò Barbieri, who performed under the name Beltrame. Molière borrowed the scheming servant Mascarille from that source, though he reworked the conclusion. The source's editors regard the Italian ending as the stronger of the two.