Lekain

Lekain, Henri-Louis [ Henri-Louis Caïn] (1729–78), French actor, who in 1748 was seen by Voltaire while playing the leading role in an amateur production. Much impressed by the excellence of his acting, Voltaire befriended him, and eventually built him a theatre in which he himself played with his two nieces. It was immediately successful and Lekain was accepted into the company of the Comédie-Française, playing Titus in a revival of Voltaire's Brutus. After a slow start he became immensely popular, and was frequently compared to Garrick (his grandfather was English). He instigated many performs in the theatre, notably the suppression of seats on the stage and the introduction of some trace of historical costume, in which he was nobly supported by Mlle Clairon. Together they did away with hip-pads and panniers, and in 1755 introduced some touches of chinoiserie into the costumes for Voltaire's Orphelin de la Chine. Lekain also insisted on more mobility on stage, doing away with the old tradition of delivering long speeches down stage centre front. After giving a magnificent performance as Vendôme in Voltaire's Adélaide du Guesclin, he went out into the chill night air, caught cold, and died just as his benefactor and greatest admirer was returning to Paris after 30 years of exile. The news of his funeral was the first thing Voltaire heard on his arrival.

Lekain , 1728-78, French actor, whose original names was Henri Louis Cain. In 1750 he made his debut at the Comédie Française and became a protégé of Voltaire . Together with Mlle Clairon, he took steps to introduce simple, realistic acting and historically accurate costuming. Because of the low status accorded to actors in his time, Lekain served three prison terms, once because he declined to appear on stage with an actor who had disgraced the company. His memoirs were published in 1825.