during her first years in france, the three royal couples; the count and countess of provence, the count and countess of artois, the dauphin and dauphine, as well as the princess of lamballe, who was the favorite of marie antoinette, formed a circle of friends and acted in amateur theater plays together, before an audience only consisting of the dauphin. this intimate friendship, however, gradually deteriorated after the succession of louis xvi to the throne in 1774.