The setup here is that Moliere and his troupe have been sent for by the King to come perform at Versailles. But instead of the piece they had prepared, the King has just asked for an entirely new piece – to be ready later that same day! So all the action of the play takes place backstage as Moliere has to come up with a story and the troupe has to select and prepare roles in a mad panic. Many of the comments in the banter between actors concern personages from Moliere’s time – we don’t necessarily know them but the biting of the satire still comes clearly through.

I play Madamoiselle Herve, a conceited chambermaid.

The Impromptu of Versailles by Moliere