Pierre-Alfred Ravel

Pierre-Alfred Ravel (6 January 1811 – 26 April 1881) was a French actor of the 19th century, best known for his appearance in comedies. He was a leading player at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal and the Théâtre du Gymnase Dramatique. His most celebrated role was Fadinard in Un chapeau de paille d'Italie (The Italian Straw Hat)

Life and career Early years Ravel was born in Bordeaux, the son of a horse dealer. He joined a travelling theatre troupe and learned the craft of acting. From 1837 to 1841 he was engaged by the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris. His first major role was in a piece called Tourlourou, where, according to Henry Lyonnet's Dictionnaire des comédiens français (1912), he showed "a charming verve in the gallant and vivacious character of Fleur d'amour". He created more than twenty roles for the Vaudeville. | Lyonnet lists some of Ravel's starring roles in his first decade at the Palais-Royal between 1841, but comments that they were all eclipsed by his greatest success, Fadinard in the 1851 comedy Un chapeau de paille d'Italie (The Italian Straw Hat), by Eugène Labiche and Marc-Michel, which Lyonnet describes as the Palais-Royal's greatest success.

Ravel embarked on tours in the French provinces and abroad, generally without much success, although he was well received in London in 1867. He returned to France, and was engaged by the Théâtre du Gymnase Dramatique in October 1868 to recreate one of his earlier successes, Un monsieur qui suit les femmes (A man who pursues women), by Théodore Barrière and Adrien Decourcelle, first seen in 1850. There followed successful revivals of more of his best-known vehicles.

Over the years Ravel developed and changed his acting style. During his first 20 years at the Palais-Royal, he had specialised in juveniles, dashing but naïve, highly articulate and moving at high speed. Later he displayed what Lyonnet calls "a delicacy and a delightful gentleness".

Ravel had no thought of retirement, and in 1881, at the age of 70, he was on the verge of taking up a new post as stage manager of the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo when he died suddenly at Neuilly-sur-Seine. His mother, aged 95, and his wife survived him.

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