‘The Cabaret artistique 37 The theatrical offerings at the Quat’z-Arts usually consisted of satirical revues (acted by the troupe or by marionettes) and shadow plays. In March 1901 the house paper announced the forthcoming performance, with marionettes, of that underground sensation, Albert Jarry’s Ubu Roi.°? In 1903 the entire repertoire of the Chat Noir was revived, by special arrangement with Mme Salis, with Bonnaud as narrator. Goudeau, Hyspa, Willette, and Fragerolle were among those producing a steady stream of new shadow plays, duly announced in the house paper. When Trombert died in 1908, the direction of the cabaret passed first to Martial Boyer, then to Montoya and Hyspa. Anne de Bercy recalled that, after initial success, the fortunes of the house began to wane. Hyspa had little taste for administration, and ‘sadness reigned from henceforth in this establishment, formerly so brilliant. Vincent Hyspa, leaving us one evening at the Lune Rousse to join Montoya, declared gravely, “Now, friends, { depart for the mortuary house where no one meets!” *°? The cafés-concerts and music-halls represented the glamour and gai~ ety of Paris—and the entertainment tastes of most Parisians, The giddy atmosphere at such establishments virtually leaps off the page