Embedded Files
Meet Ensoleillé the Chicken!
"Ensoleillé" means "sunny." Ensoleillé is colored like the French flag--with blue, red, and white (although he appears part gray in the concept art, it's actually white). He has a little more weight than what is shown in the concept art; his eyes are also a little smaller.
Ensoleillé (like his predecessors) was born at the Palace and has witnessed many things over his life. Given a special ability to speak (after all, he is rather sophisticated!), he wants to inform all guests of the rich history of the Palace.
The following costumes are used in the scenes:
Pre-Show--King Louis XIV in hunting attire as he looks at the Palace from near his hunting lodge
Act I--King Louis XIV in a green suit from the period
Act II--King Louis XVI in a chestnut suit with a blue sash and Marie Antonie in a light blue dress
Act III--Napoleon III in his black and red military uniform with a red sash
Act IV--David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau (who is also wearing a dark green fodora), and Woodrow Wilson in green, black, and gray suits, respectively
Now on with the show...
The visitors have been invited to a presentation held by DOCTOR JACQUES MOREAU. During the construction of the convention center, where the event is being held, a mirror with a golden sun frame from the XVII century was found. And he’s gonna share the discoveries he has made about it. Therefore, at the beginning of the attraction, the visitors will walk into an auditorium. The stage has a simple theming: a black polished floor and a gray wall. On the center there’s a small column for the mirror to lay on; it’s crucial that it’s touching the floor.
Due to the attraction being a rotating theater, each scene needs to be the same length. Therefore, the visitors taking their seats is taken into account in the approximately 4 minutes that the scene lasts. Once they are seated, the show may begin.
UNKNOWN VOICE
(anguished)
Bonjour! Doctor Moreau’s presentation should begin prochainement, we’re dealing with some unforeseen circumstances, mais we’re working on it.
After that, nothing happens for around 15 seconds, until some noises can be heard backstage, as if someone was chasing an animal. Then, Ensoleillé the rooster walks with elegance into the stage. He looks confused momentarily until he looks at the audience. Then he begins acting as if he was talking to them, he even moved his wings as if he was explaining something. However only only crowing noises come out of his beak. When he realizes that the audience isn’t reacting. He runs to the mirror and looks at himself, then he begins pecking at it.
A few seconds later, the lights began flickering until the light bulbs get burnt out. Afterwards, some golden magic dust begins coming out of the mirror, making the whole room shine with it, as the guests transition into the next scene, which is also dark and filled with golden magic dust.
The visitors have been invited to a presentation held by DOCTOR JACQUES MOREAU. During the construction of the convention center, where the event is being held, a mirror with a golden sun frame from the XVII century was found. And he’s gonna share the discoveries he has made about it. Therefore, at the beginning of the attraction, the visitors will walk into an auditorium. The stage has a simple theming: a black polished floor and a gray wall. On the center there’s a small column for the mirror to lay on; it’s crucial that it’s touching the floor.
Due to the attraction being a rotating theater, each scene needs to be the same length. Therefore, the visitors taking their seats is taken into account in the approximately 4 minutes that the scene lasts. Once they are seated, the show may begin.
UNKNOWN VOICE
(anguished)
Bonjour! Doctor Moreau’s presentation should begin prochainement, we’re dealing with some unforeseen circumstances, mais we’re working on it.
After that, nothing happens for around 15 seconds, until some noises can be heard backstage, as if someone was chasing an animal. Then, Ensoleillé the rooster walks with elegance into the stage. He looks confused momentarily until he looks at the audience. Then he begins acting as if he was talking to them, he even moved his wings as if he was explaining something. However only only crowing noises come out of his beak. When he realizes that the audience isn’t reacting. He runs to the mirror and looks at himself, then he begins pecking at it.
A few seconds later, the lights began flickering until the light bulbs get burnt out. Afterwards, some golden magic dust begins coming out of the mirror, making the whole room shine with it, as the guests transition into the next scene, which is also dark and filled with golden magic dust.
Once the magic dust disappear and the light is turned back on. The guests will be transported into a brand new set. It is themed like the interior of a small Hunting Lodge. Both the the walls and the floor are made out of wood. There’s a wooden table that on its surface holds the mirror that started this journey through time. It also has a window in the middle of the wall on the back, in which a French Forest is being projected. At the center of it stands a LOUIS XIV animatronic.
LOUIS XIV
In 1623, my father, Louis XIII built a hunting lodge on a hill in his favorite hunting ground, 12 miles west of Paris. It was close to a village named Versailles.
A herd of red deer are seen running through the window, followed by a man that resembles Louis XIII in a horse. Louise XIV momentarily looks at the window as his father passes through it.
LOUIS XIV
However, the site where he built the hunting lodge was a wooded wetland, his court called it unworthy of a king. And the lodge didn’t impress them either, they said it was too humble to inspire vanity into the simplest of the gentlemen.
Ensoleillé the rooster pops his head out of a jar that is placed next to the mirror. It appears like he’s struggling to get out, he looks directly at the mirror as if he wants to peck it again. However, his struggles have been unsuccessful. When Louis XIV looks at the source of the noise, Ensoleillé hides himself in the jar, so the king doesn’t see him.
LOUIS XIV
So he hired an architect to transform the hunting lodge into a château. The work was completed by 1634.
The background in the window slowly changes from beautiful French Forest, to a small plaza within the château, people are constantly walking by.
LOUIS XIV
But it wasn’t enough. Once I visited the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. I was impressed by the palace and its gardens. Vaux-le-Vicomte’s scale and opulence inspired my aesthetic sense.
Louis XIV looks at the ceiling, light shines around him. The sun king radiates as he talks about his œuvre d’art.
LOUIS XIV
So I recruited the authors of Vaux-le-Vicomte to help me expand the château. It was done in three phases from 1661 to 1715. At first the work focused on its park and the gardens.
LOUIS XIV (CONT’D)
But in 1668, after the victory over Spain in the War of Devolution, I decided to turn Versailles into a full-scale royal residence. I kept my father’s château but made it so much more. It was encased on the three sides, which is known as the enveloppe.
The lights begin shinning even brighter.
LOUIS XIV
There were wars. The funding for my castle had to be diminished for some time. The Nine Years’ forced to stop momentarily the work on it. But ultimately, I made my dreams a reality. I made the Château de Versailles.
Then the lights go dark and the room is filled with magic dust, as the guests transition into the next scene. After the transition is done, a new set appears in front of the audience. The set has a lot of detail, it screams luxury and elegance. The room has a light green wallpaper with golden touches. There’s a big marble chimney whose structure goes from the floor to the ceiling. The sun mirror is hung up on the chimney structure. And a beautiful painting of the King standing on the gardens of Versailles is approximately 1 meter from the mirror to the right.
There’s also two chairs in the set, one is very simple while the other has red cushions. The latter one has an animatronic of Louis XIV sitting on it, his back to the right side. The other chair also holds an animatronic whose back is facing to the left side. Behind that NOBLEMAN, there’s 3 animatronics standing up. The first of those 3 animatronics is a woman with black hair and dark skin. She’s wearing a purple dress. The second animatronic is a man with blond curly hair, he’s in a dark blue suit. The last animatronic is a young woman with short brown hair, she’s wearing a red dress.
NOBLEWOMAN IN PURPLE DRESS
By the early 1680s, Louis had augmented French influence in the world.
NOBLEMAN WITH CURLY HAIR
He also had successfully increased the influence of the crown and its authority over the church and aristocracy, consolidating absolute monarchy in France.
NOBLEWOMAN IN RED DRESS
And in 1682, Louis XIV moved the seat of his court and government to Versailles, making the city of Versailles the unofficial capital of France.
After that, Ensoleillé the rooster walks into the spotlight from behind the animatronics that are standing up, he’s dressed as an aristocrat and wearing a small wig. He looks like he’s meant to be there, with the exception that he’s a rooster.
NOBLEMAN SITTING
Your majesty, are you sure about attaching the nobles to your court at Versailles?
LOUIS XIV
Oui, I’ll achieve an increased control over the French Aristocracy. And I’ll be able to turn the palace into an irresistible combination of marriage market, employment agency and the entertainment capital of aristocratic Europe.
The noblemen and noblewomen look surprised at the Sun King’s proposal. They begin clapping as soon as he finishes talking. Louis XIV looks happy at the positive reception from his court.
NOBLEMAN SITTING
Your majesty, where will all the noblemen and noblewomen live?
LOUIS XIV
Apartments will be built to house those willing to pay court to me.
Once again, the noblemen and noblewomen applauded. Everyone supported his idea. Meanwhile, Ensoleillé the rooster looked quizzically at the audience, and gesturing to the king, implying that they should also be clapping.
NOBLEWOMAN IN PURPLE DRESS
But there was a catch. The Sun King loved attention. Therefore, he facilitated the distribution of favours and positions to those who followed him around throughout the day. How was he able to make that work? He had an excellent memory to remember who attended his court.
The Noblewoman rolled her eyes at the last sentence.
NOBLEMAN WITH CURLY HAIR
Another tool Louis used to control his nobility was censorship, letters were opened to discern their author's opinion of the government. And by domesticating them with extravagant luxury and other distractions, Louis XIV ensured the aristocracy remained under his scrutiny.
NOBLEWOMAN IN RED DRESS
This victory over the nobility may have ensured the end of major civil wars in France until the French Revolution about a century later. However, when Louis XIV died in 1715. The young new King, Louis XV, just five years old, and his government were moved temporarily from Versailles to Paris.
As the death of Louis XIV is mentioned, the stage gets darker gradually. Until the magic dust reappears, signaling that the audience is getting transported into a brand new time period.
When the transition ends, the guests are welcomed into the ball room. It’s very luxurious. It has lots of gold and marble finishes. In the center, there’s a big cake on a table. The Sun Mirror is hanging right above it. On the right side of the cake, there’s an animatronic of LOUIS XVI. While on the left side, there’s an animatronic of MARIE ANTOINETTE. And there are three big windows in the back that are projecting a beautiful night, for now.
LOUIS XVI
(worried)
The financial situation is getting worse, ma chérie. There’s not enough money to make major changes to the palace, other than improving the royal apartments.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
(excited)
Give me the Petit Trianon, mon chéri. I’ll just make some petit changes to the interior. And I might add a theater, the Théâtre de la Reine. Oh and maybe I can also transform the arboretum into a collection of buildings modeled after a rural French hamlet.
Louis XVI just smiled at his queen, but his facial expressions reflected distress. Meanwhile, Ensoleillé the rooster shows up behind one of the windows, he’s pecking at it, he looks alarmed. A fire torch is seen through one of the windows, but it’s still very far away.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
Mon chéri, did you heard about the storming of the Bastille in Paris? There are rumors of a revolution.
LOUIS XVI
Don’t worry, ma chérie. We’re safe here at Versaillles.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
But mon chéri, the people’s anger only keeps increasing. I heard that a crowd of several thousand men and women were protesting about the high price and scarcity of bread.
Ensoleillé the rooster’s pecking at the window increased. The crowd begins making themselves clearer as they get closer to the palace. They had taken weapons from the city armory. A lighting is heard, a storm begins pouring.
LOUIS XVI
They’re close, ma chérie. We failed them and this the price we’ve to pay.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
We put ourselves and our luxurious lifestyle over them. They’ll soon take us and the National Assembly to Paris. And then, our judgement will happen.
The crowd is seen furiously hitting at the windows, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI look at themselves one last time.
LOUIS XVI
In 1792, the Convention, the new revolutionary government, ordered the transfer of all the paintings and sculptures from the Palace to the Louvre.
MARIE ANTOINETTE
In 1793, the Convention declared the abolition of the monarchy, and ordered all of the royal property in the Palace to be sold at auction.
The lights turn dark, the sound of broken glass is heard, followed by the sound of a guillotine blade cutting something. Then magic dusts shows up.
The magic dust swirls around guests as the theater rotates to the third stage. Once motion has stopped, the dust returns to the mirror, still in its original location, but this time instead of the chaos of The French Revolution, a figure of Napoleon Bonaparte is standing in the hallway. He starts to speak.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
“Ah, Versailles! What a magnificent palace. So much history has been made here! To think that the mighty Sun King himself lived here is incredible. As newly installed emperor of France, I have been searching for a new palace to call home. I would quite enjoy living here in this palace among the fine treasures and majestic gardens that grace the landscape surrounding it.”
As Napoleon whimsically considers living in the palace, a court official appears. Meanwhile, Ensoleillé the rooster appears from behind set, pecking curiously at the musket balls and revolutionary hats now occupying the palace.
COURT OFFICIAL
“Your highness?”
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
“Yes? What is it?”
COURT OFFICIAL
“Our military spending is draining our finances. Continuing these costly wars is hurting the country financially.”
Ensoleillé the rooster is heard hilariously setting off a cannon in the background just as the Court Official references their financial troubles. A chandelier is heard breaking off-stage. Both Napoleon and the Court Official turn but find nothing and are left rather confused.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
“Ah, I see. This palace needs upgrades in order for it to become my new residence.”
COURT OFFICIAL
“That’s a wonderful idea, but I’m afraid we might not have enough money to do both.”
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
“True, the cost of renovating the entire place would be substantial, and I need these wars to continue. Even selling Louisiana to the United States seems to not be enough. Well, I’ll at least have the Grand Trianon refurbished and I’ll make it a springtime residence for me and my family. Thank you for the update. You may go now.”
COURT OFFICIAL
“Yes, your highness.”
Napoleon turns to look out a window as the mirror once again sparkles with magical dust. As the dust envelops the room, the theater begins to turn to the next scene.
The theater once again comes to a halt and the dust subsides, but this time, the mirror is overlooking the main signatories of the Treaty of Versailles, which were David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson. The three men are in the middle of a conversation regarding the treaty that had just been signed.
DAVID LLYOD GEORGE
“I’m glad this is over with. That war was horrible. The amount of damage the Germans have inflicted is incredible.”
GEORGES CLEMENCEAU
“Speak for yourself! France was hit the hardest by this war. The western front was on our soil!”
WOODROW WILSON
Wilson: “Yes, this war was truly awful, but we must remember that hurting the Germans will only worsen tensions between our countries. This is why I’ve championed the League of Nations. This league will unite the countries of the world together and we’ll never have to face another war like this.”
GEORGES CLEMENCEAU
“True, but we’ve got to have some way to rebuild our infrastructure. We’ve been stripped of money during this war and we don’t have a means of obtaining more. The Germans caused this war, so it’s only appropriate that they be forced to pay the damages of their folly.”
DAVID LLYOD GEORGE
“Britain is in the same boat. Many of our troops were deployed in France during this war and we’ve suffered our own damages from it. I fully supported having the Germans pay for it. I do worry though that their people will suffer greatly from this, but maybe their government should’ve taken that into account when they declared war.”
WOODROW WILSON
“Well, we’ve signed the treaty and what’s done is done. It may not be perfect, but after many days of discussions and debate, we’ve crafted a framework for peace in our time and a way for our countries to heal from the scars of war. I hope the League can settle the differences between the nations, bring lasting peace to the world, and prevent another catastrophic event like The Great War from happening ever again.”
The lights dim again, but before the mirror sheds its magical dust, the mirror displays scenes of the hardships of the Germans and scenes from World War Two, showing the result of this attempt at peace. The mirror sends its magical dust around the theater once more as guests rotate to the final act of the show.”
The theater stops rotating once again, but this time no historical figures are on stage to greet us. Instead, a historian remarks on the recent events in the palace’s history.
HISTORIAN
“My! This palace never ceases to impress me. Every time I walk through these halls, I’m amazed at all the history that has happened in these chambers. Even after the palace became a museum back in the late 19th century, the Treaty of Versailles was signed here. Since then, the palace has received multiple donations from big donors such as John D. Rockefeller to revitalize the structure. In more recent times, the Ministry of Culture has attempted to repurchase the original furniture from collectors around the world, which has been mostly successful, but still has a long way to go. Some of these rooms, especially The Hall of Mirrors, which was bombed in the 70’s by terrorists, have required multiple repairs due to new damages inflicted upon them, but each time they are restored to their original magnificence. I’m excited for what the future holds for this palace, and I hope the new theater show they’re building next door will cover the immense history of this palace and provide guests a new perspective on this building while instilling a sense of respect and admiration for the architecture, history, and beauty of the palace. The history of Versailles is still being written, and who knows what historical events will happen inside its walls, but I bet whatever happens will be just as exciting as it’s past!”
The mirror shines in a brilliant light as red, white, and blue dust envelops the room. The French national anthem plays as the theater rotates to the unload area.
After that, the audience is back in the auditorium. The set looks exactly the same, except the sun mirror is now hanging in the wall and little golden sun imprints have been magically painted into the wall. Another key difference is that Ensoleillé the rooster is no longer present. Instead, Doctor Jacques Moreau is standing in front of the audience.
DOCTOR JACQUES MOREAU
Je suis désolée. I’m not sure what happened.
The animatronic of Doctor Moreau walks around a little and then turns to look at the mirror, then at the guests.
DOCTOR JACQUES MOREAU
That was real, right? That really happened?
Doctor Moreau puts his hand in his head, like he couldn’t believe what he just saw. His words and Ensoleillé the rooster absence seem to hint at the two being the same being. However, it’s never outright confirmed to the audience, leaving it open to their interpretation.
DOCTOR JACQUES MOREAU
I’m afraid that I’ll have to reschedule our meeting. There’s so much to think about, so much to write about!
Doctor Moreau waves goodbye at the audience, as the door opens for them to leave. The time it takes for the guests to leave the room is also taken into account in the scene length.
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