Georges Wague

Georges Wague
Portrait in pastel of Georges Wague in Pierrot by Jules Chéret, 1909
Born	Georges Marie Valentin Waag (1874-01-14)14 January 1874 Paris, France
Died	17 April 1965(1965-04-17) (aged 91) Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Mime and silent film actor

Georges Wague, born Georges Marie Valentin Waag, (14 January 1874 - 17 April 1965) was a French mime, teacher and silent film actor.

Georges Marie Valentin Waag was born in Paris on 14 January 1874. His parents were strict and devout. His mother died when he was nine, and he was placed in the school of the Brothers of the Christian doctrine on rue d'Assas in Paris. Here he helped with performances given by the association of young people from the parish of Saint-Sulpice, and began to recite poetry with this association. He qualified as an electrical engineer before entering the Conservatory of Dramatic Art of Paris as an auditor. At the Conservatory he attended the course given by Dupont Vernon.

In the early 1890s Wague participated in the soirées of La Plume, the literary magazine founded by Léon Deschamps, where he was noticed for his verse recitals. Xavier Privas proposed to sing songs while Georges Wague mimed them, creating a new artistic expression they called "cantomime". In the cantomimes, which began in 1893 at the Café Procope, Wague performed on stage with a singer and piano in the wings. Often the character was Pierrot. The established mime Félicia Mallet assisted Wague in developing his highly individual style during the early part of his career. Cantomimes included Noël de Pierrot (1894) and Le Testament de Pierrot (1895). Some were performed at Théâtre de la Bodinière in the Rue Saint-Lazare. Wague staged his first pantomime at the Théâtre Montparnasse in 1895, Le Voeu de Musette. Many others followed over the years.

To revive his career after his return from military service in 1898, Georges Wague began to participate in soirées of the "Veillées artistiques de Plaisance". Cantomimes included Pierrot Chante (1899) and Sommeil Blanc (1899).Sommeil blanc (White Sleep) was written for him by Xavier Privas, with music by Louis Huvey. Due to rivalry with other performers of cantomimes, Wague created a company with Christiane Mandelys (or Mendelys), who became his wife, to preserve his rights as inventor of the concept. With his troupe, he played La Roulotte (The Caravan) directed by Georges Chartron. He won success and began touring in France and abroad, leading to presentation of the last show at the Exposition Universelle (1900) where he played Pierrot parts such as unfaithful Pierrot and Christmas Pierrot.