Premiere of Ubu Roi 1896

The premiere, the following evening, was a different matter indeed. In attendance were "all the leading in the worlds of politics, journalism and letters". Grémier once again spoke the opening 'Merdre!' ('Shite'). The audience immediately burst out with a roar. Grémier was "unable to get a word in edgewise for the next fifteen minutes" (Lennon, 49). It was the first time that someone had spoken such a word on the modern stage. Gémier tried to silence the audience by blowing a tramway horn (Beaumont, 100). Many people left the theatre. A fight broke out in the orchestra pit, while Jarry's supporters yelled, "You wouldn't have understood Shakespeare or Wagner either!" (Lennon, 48). Others shouted, "Can't you see that the author is taking us for a bunch of damned fools?" (Beaumont, 100). When Grémier had finally gotten slight control of the audience, he spoke the second word―another 'Merdre!'. Needless to say, the audience started to howl once more. They shouted at the stage and at each other. When things quieted down again, the play proceeded as planned. Smaller outbursts continued throughout the performance. In the days that followed, the violent battle for and against Ubu Roi would move on into the Parisian press.

Read more here. Full text of Ubu Roi here.