ARNAL

arnal, etienne (1794-1872), french actor, was born at meulan, seine-et-oise, on the 1st of february 1794. after serving in the army, and working in a button factory, he took to the stage. his first appearance (1815) was in tragedy, and for some time he was unsuccessful; it was not until 1827 that he showed his real ability in comedy parts, especially in plays by felix august duvert (1795-1876) and augustin theodore lauzanne (1805-1877), whose _cabinets particuliers_ (1832), _le mari de la dame de choeurs_ (1837), _passe minuit, l'homme blase_ (1843), _la clef dans le dos_ (1848), &c., contained parts written for him. he was twenty years at the vaudeville, and completed at the various parisian theatres a stage career of nearly half a century. arnal was the author of _epitre a bouffe_ (1840), which is reprinted in his volume of poetry, _boutades en vers_ (1861).