Alfred 'Savoir' PoznaÅ„ski (23 January 1883 â€" 26 June 1934) was a
French Jewish comedy playwright of Polish Jewish origin.[1]Alfred
Poznanski was born in Šódź in Poland (then in the Russian Empire)
on 23 January 1883, in a Jewish family. After being educated in a
public junior high school in Šódź, he was admitted to the
University of Montpellier, where he studied law. On graduating, he
settled in Paris.[2]Poznanski became a playwright, writing in French
under the pen name of Alfred Savoir. His plays were mainly staged in
France, but some were put on in Poland. His first play to be staged
was the comedy Le troisième couvert (the Third cover). His work
included sarcastic comedy and vaudeville, but also some serious pieces
such as a historical drama about Catherine the Great (La Petite
Catherine). He co-founded the weekly magazine "Marianne" and was one
of the editors. Poznanski served in the French air force in World War
I and was awarded the Legion of Honour for his courage.[2]Savoir was a
rival of Steve Passeur, but had little doubt about his own superior
ability. After seeing the first performance of a work by Passeur, he
was heard to say, "What an admirable play! I am going to write it."[3]
Savoir's plays were called vaudeville idéologique, and he was called
"the Bernard Shaw of the Boulevard."[4] His farces took a relaxed
attitude towards sex, "an appetite in which man is revealed as funny".
This common view among Parisians of the time was disturbing to the
more puritan and sentimental Americans.[5]
French Jewish comedy playwright of Polish Jewish origin.[1]Alfred
Poznanski was born in Šódź in Poland (then in the Russian Empire)
on 23 January 1883, in a Jewish family. After being educated in a
public junior high school in Šódź, he was admitted to the
University of Montpellier, where he studied law. On graduating, he
settled in Paris.[2]Poznanski became a playwright, writing in French
under the pen name of Alfred Savoir. His plays were mainly staged in
France, but some were put on in Poland. His first play to be staged
was the comedy Le troisième couvert (the Third cover). His work
included sarcastic comedy and vaudeville, but also some serious pieces
such as a historical drama about Catherine the Great (La Petite
Catherine). He co-founded the weekly magazine "Marianne" and was one
of the editors. Poznanski served in the French air force in World War
I and was awarded the Legion of Honour for his courage.[2]Savoir was a
rival of Steve Passeur, but had little doubt about his own superior
ability. After seeing the first performance of a work by Passeur, he
was heard to say, "What an admirable play! I am going to write it."[3]
Savoir's plays were called vaudeville idéologique, and he was called
"the Bernard Shaw of the Boulevard."[4] His farces took a relaxed
attitude towards sex, "an appetite in which man is revealed as funny".
This common view among Parisians of the time was disturbing to the
more puritan and sentimental Americans.[5]
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