In 1697, a single event caused the King to finalize his decision. The actors had just announced upcoming performances of the play "La fausse prude", or "The False Hypocrite", a play that directly ridiculed King Louis XIV of France's wife, Madame de Maintenon. There is a debate among scholars as to whether or not the play was actually performed or if the play was simply advertised and the King learned of its existence. Regardless, upon his knowledge of the play's existence, the king had the actors sent away and the theatre shut down.