Vaudeville is The meaning of the word "Vaudeville"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Vaudeville is a genre from the world of drama that has characteristic, recognizable features. We can say with confidence that he is the "great-grandfather" of the modern stage. Firstly, this is a very musical piece, full of dances and songs. Second, it's always a comedy.

Vaudeville is also a theatrical play created in this genre. The plot is simple and simple. The conflict is based on a funny intrigue and is resolved by a happy ending.

History

The origin of such an unusual word is curious. Historians claim that it was born in the fifteenth century in Normandy, near the river Vir. Poets lived there, composing folk songs, which were called val de Vire, in translation - “Vir Valley”. Later the word changed to voix de ville (literally "provincial voice"). Finally, in French, the term took shape in vaudeville, which means "vaudeville". This was the name of literary creations in which events were presented through the prism of an ingenuous, uncomplicated perception. Initially, these were just street comic songs performed by itinerant artists. Only inIn the eighteenth century, playwrights appeared who, focusing on the nature of these songs, began to compose plays with similar plots and in a similar style. Since the texts were poetic, music easily fell on them. However, the actors in the process of performing plays improvised a lot, they did it most often in prose, and therefore playwrights also began to alternate pieces of text with prose.

Vaudeville and operetta

Art historians say that from that moment vaudeville had a younger sister - operetta, which, however, very soon became extremely popular. Singing prevailed in operetta, and conversations prevailed in vaudeville. The specialization of form was followed by some difference in content. Vaudeville is not a satirical, but rather a playful depiction of the life and customs of middle-class people. Comedy situations in it develop rapidly, violently and often grotesquely.

Features of the genre

One of the characteristic features of the works of this genre is the constant appeal of the actor to the viewer during the action. Also, the specificity of vaudeville is the obligatory repetition of the same song verses. The peculiarities of vaudeville made it a welcome part of any benefit performance. An actor who gives such a performance, after serious dramatic monologues, can please the audience, appearing in a completely different image. In addition, vaudeville is a great opportunity to showcase your vocal and dance skills.

Influence on cultural traditions

Vaudeville in the era of its origin was very fond ofinhabitants of different countries and continents, but in each culture he went his own way. In America, for example, a music hall and other bright, amazing show programs grew out of it. In Russia, vaudeville brought to life joke plays and comic opera. Absolutely vaudeville content in some of the brilliant works of A. P. Chekhov ("Proposal", "Bear", "Drama", etc.).

Sample of Russian vaudeville

"Melnik - a sorcerer, a deceiver and a matchmaker" - Alexander Ablesimov's sparkling comic play in the spirit of vaudeville was first played on stage in 1779. Two hundred years later, modern theaters are happy to stage it. The plot is extremely simple: the mother of the peasant woman Anyuta, born a noblewoman, but married to a peasant, does her best to prevent the wedding of her daughter, who has chosen a peasant boy as her husband. The girl's father does not want to take him as a son-in-law. The cunning and enterprising miller Thaddeus is called to resolve the conflict. Since the village belief says that all millers are sorcerers, Thaddeus does not miss the opportunity to take advantage of this, believing that divination is nothing but a deception. He becomes a matchmaker and, finding his own "key" to each, successfully convinces Anyuta's parents that they cannot find a better son-in-law. This funny sitcom has everything that includes the meaning of the word "vaudeville".