The Madwoman of Chaillot

In "The Madwoman of Chaillot," an eccentric woman in Paris and her allies struggle against evil men who seek only wealth and power. The play by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux was written in 1943 and first performed in 1945.

The play is set in the Chaillot district of Paris, where Countess Aurelia, the harmless "madwoman" sees the world as happy and beautiful until learning about plans to ruin Paris to drill for oil. She gets the help of her fellow outcasts and madwomen in her fight.

The New York Drama Critics' Circle hailed an early production as "pure gold, with no base metal" and having "an enveloping and irresistible humor."