5.2 PIE AND THE TART

BBA & BHM – I STUDY MATERIAL

UNIT V – ONE ACT PLAY

 

5.2 PIE AND THE TART

 

 

CHARACTER WISE SUMMARY

 

Gaultier: Cake shop owner

 

Marion: Gaultier’s wife

 

Jean      : Vagabonds

 

Pierre   :  Vagabonds (beggar)

 

 

 

Introduction:

 

 

The scene is laid outside Gaultier’s cake shop in Paris.  Jean is found in a dejected mood.  Pierre is walking to and fro blowing his fingers because of extreme cold.  Pierre and jean both feel the cold.  Jean is not bothered about the bad dress of Pierre.  He is concerned about his hunger.  He made no bone about to tell Judge Gaston earlier when he was arrested for begging.  Pierre agrees with Jean and tells him that he does not know what hunger is while jean prays to the great saints to overcome his while he begs that he has been starving for seven days and not three.  Pierre knocks at the cake shop and says that he had not food for a week.  Gaultier the owner turns him out.  He slams the door.  The wife opens the door when Jean invokes the names of St. Agatha, St. Nicholas and St. Crispin., she also turns out the beggar stating that her husband has gone out.  Jean is sorry.  Gaultier comes out of the shop.  Marion, his wife appears at the door.

 

 

 Gaultier’s Dinner with Mayor

 

Gaultier is to dine with the mayor.  He feels that it would be better to take the eel pie with him.  But on second thought Gaultier feels that it is beneath his dignity to carry and eel pie.  Marion agrees with him.  She is sure that her husband, Gaultier would meet someone on the way.  But Gaultier feels that the person might prove to be cheating.  He tells his wife that a messenger sent by him would kiss her hand and the eel pie could be sent through him.

 

Jean’s trick

 

 

Jean overhears Gaultier’s conversation with his wife.  The conversation now is between Jean and Pierre, the vagabonds.  Jean asks Pierre to knock at the door of Gaultier and see his wife, Marion.  He should take her hand and kiss it.  She has to be told that her husband, Gaultier has sent him to fetch the eel pie.  It will end his hunger.  Pierre disabuses the fear from jean that the husband of Marion, Gaultier would appear in the process. Jean does as Pierre has instructed him.  He gets the eel pie.  Pierre hugs the eel pie as St. Ursula would have her maidens.

 

Gaultier comes back because the mayor has gone out.  He has no other option but to eat at home.  But Marion, the wife of Gaultier says that there is nothing at home.  When Gaultier reminds her that the eel pie is there, Marion replies that it has been given to his messenger a quarter of an hour back.  Gaultier points out that he has never sent a messenger.

 

Quarrel between Gaultier and Marion 

 

There is a wordy warfare between Gaultier and Marion.  The hunger of Pierre is satisfied.  His brain begins to function.  The doctor, he remembers has said that t food before digestion is bad.  Both praise Gaultier and his wife Marion for the excellent preparation of the pie. Pierre remembers the cranberry tart, which he saw on the shelf and he asks Jean to go and tell the lady that Mr. Gaultier want him to bring the tart. Jean goes to Marion again not satisfied with the eel pie alone.  He gives the impression that Gaultier, her husband has sent him to her again to fetch the cranberry tart on the kitchen shelf.  Unfortunately Gaultier is inside.  He comes out and beats jean.  Jean throws the blame on his friend, Pierre.  Jean tells Pierre that the lady would give the tart only to the same messenger who came for the pie.  Pierre goes thinking that Marion would welcome him.  Pierre explains the truth.

 

 

Conclusion:

 

 

Pierre tells the angry Gaultier that he had take n the pie to the mayor’s house and he said that the mayor was grateful for the pie and wanted Gaultier to come for dinner.  The mayor had come back.  Pierre somehow or other makes Gaultier part with the tart under the pretext of running to the mayor.  The boys enjoy the cranberry tart with great religion.  Thus the boys manage to dupe the gullible Gaultier couple.

 

 

PIE AND THE TART

Introduction:

Hugh Chesterman’s play ‘The Pie and the Tart’ is set in the fifteenth century France. It portrays the then French life in a humorous way.

 

The Condition of Jean and Pierre:

John and Pierre are beggars. As the play opens, they pity themselves for not having taken food for the past few days. Pierre and Jean are roaming in the street because they do not have a house. They both talk about their troubles. Pierre says that he was arrested for begging and the judge did not consider him as a human being. They both plan to get some food by begging.

 

Gaultier and Marion:

They both decide to go to different streets and beg. Jean goes to Gaultier’s bakery shop and knocks the door. Gaultier scolds him and shuts the door. On the other street, Jean knocks the back door of the bakery and Marion: Gaultier’s wife scolds him. Gaultier comes out of the house with Marion and says that he is going to dine with the Mayor. He says that he would send a person to take the eel pie from the shop for dining. Gaultier says that the person would kiss her hand to get the pie. Marion agrees for the plan.

Jean’s Plan:

Jean overhears their plan. He asks Pierre to kiss Marion’s hand and get the pie. Pierre goes to the bakery and says that Gaultier has sent him and he tries to kiss her hand. Marion believes him and gives him the pie. Both Jean and Pierre enjoy eating the pie. They both liked the pie very much. Pierre says that he saw a tart in their house and asks Jean to get the tart as he got the pie.

 

Gaultier’s Return:

In the meanwhile, Gaultier comes home angrily and says that the Mayor is not in home. He asks Marion to give the eel pie. Marion says that she has given it to a person. Gaultier scolds her for being stupid. At this time, Jean comes to the door asking for the tart. Gaultier beats him up and asks for the pie. Jean says that Pierre has got the pie. He also brings Pierre to Gaultier.   Pierre’s Idea: Pierre comes there and says that he gave the pie to the Mayor, who came home just then. He says that the Mayor had asked for the tart. Gaultier feels happy. Thus the boys manage to dupe the gullible Gaultier couple.