FAVART, CHARLES SIMON (1710-1792), French dram atist, was born in Paris, the son of a pastry-cook. He was edu cated at the college of Louis-le-Grand, and after his father's death carried on the business for a time. After the production of his first vaudeville, Les Deux Jumelles (1734), he devoted himself entirely to the drama. Among his most successful works were Annette et Lubin, Le Coq du village (1743), Ninette a la cour (17J3), Les Trois Sultanes (I 761) and L'Anglais a Bordeaux (1763). Favart became director of the Opera Comique, and in 1745 married Marie Justine Benoite Duronceray (17 2 7-7 2 ), a beautiful young dancer, singer and actress, who as "Mlle. Chan tilly" had made a successful debut the year before. By their united talents and labours the Opera Comique rose to such a height of success that it aroused the jealousy of the rival Comedie Italienne and was suppressed. Favart then undertook the direc tion of a troupe of comedians which was to accompany the army of Maurice de Saxe into Flanders. The enemy became desirous of hearing Favart's company, and permission was given to gratify them, battles and comedies thus curiously alternating with each other. But the marshal, who was an admirer of Mme. Favart, began to persecute her with his attentions. To escape him she went to Paris. A lettre de cachet was issued against the husband, who fled to Strasbourg and hid in a cellar. Mme. Favart mean while had been established by the marshal in a house at Vaugirard; but as she proved a fickle mistress she was suddenly arrested and confined in a convent, where she was brought to unconditional surrender in the beginning of 1750. Before the year was out the marshal died, and Mme. Favart reappeared at the Comedie Italienne, where for 20 years she was the favourite actress. To her is largely due the beginnings of the change in this theatre to performances of a lyric type adapted from Italian models, which developed later into the genuine French comic opera. She was also a bold reformer in matters of stage costume, playing the peas ant with bare arms, in wooden shoes and linen dress, and not, as heretofore, in court costume with enormous hoops, diamonds and long white kid gloves. With her husband, and other authors, she collaborated in a number of successful pieces, and one—La Fille ?nal gardee—she produced alone.
Favart survived his wife 20 years. He died in Paris on May 12, 1792. His plays have been several times republished in various editions and selections (1763-72, 12 vols. ; 181o, 3 vols; ; 1813; 1853) . His correspondence (1759-63) with Count Durazzo, direc tor of theatres at Vienna, was published in 1808 as Memoires et correspondence litteraire, dramatique et anecdotique de C. S. Favart. It furnishes valuable information on the state of the literary and theatrical worlds in the 18th century.