the 1898 play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. Not long after her marriage to La Grange, she became an official member of Molière's company, receiving a one-half share and in 1680 was one of the founding members of the Comédie-Française, along with her brother-in-law, Achille, who was also an actor, known as Verneuil. After Molière Molière died in 1673 after which La Grange was instrumental in the rebuilding of the company during the transition to its new theatre at the Hôtel de Guénégaud. When the troupe merged with the players of the Hôtel de Bourgogne in 1680 forming the Comédie-Française, he became the new company's Orator. In 1682 he edited and wrote the preface of the first collected edition of Molière's plays. Assessment The theatre historian, Samuel Chappuzeau, writing in 1674, described La Grange as an actor as follows: La Grange is generally regarded, and rightly so, as a good actor in both serious and comic roles. Although of no more than medium build, he is well proportioned, and has a jaunty and relaxed manner, which gives a good impression even before he speaks. He succeeded Molière not only as orateur, but also in the concern he shows for the general well-being of the company, being both intelligent and trustworthy. References Sources Banham, Martin (1995). The Cambridge Guide to the Theatre, second edition. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. . Dickens, Charles (1885). "The Old French Theatre", in two parts. Part II, All the year round. A Weekly Journal., volume 36, pp. 5 to 11. London: Charles Dickens. View at Google Books. Hartnoll, Phyllis, editor (1983). The Oxford Companion to the Theatre, fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. . Howarth, William H., editor (1997). French Theatre in the Neo-Classical Era 1550–1789. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (2008 digital reprint: .) Mongrédien, Georges (1972). Dictionnaire biographique des comédiens français du XVIIe siècle, second edition. Paris: Centre national de la recherche scientifique. . Thierry, Édouard, editor (1876). Charles Varlet de la Grange et son registre. Paris: Jules Claye. View at HathiTrust. Young, Bert Edward, editor; Young, Grace Philputt, editor (1947). Le registre de La Grange: 1659–1685, two volumes. Paris: E. Droz. Catalog record at HathiTrust. (1977 facsimile edition: Geneva: Slatkine Reprints. .) External links La Grange at CÉSAR 1635 births 1692 deaths Male actors from Paris 17th-century French male actors Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française French male stage actors