Vaudeville is a genre from the world of dramaturgy that has characteristic, recognizable features. We will say with confidence that he is the "great-grandfather" of the modern stage. Firstly, it is a very musical piece, full of dances and songs. Secondly, it is always a comedy.
Vaudeville is also a theatrical play created in this genre. The plot is her ingenuous and easy. The conflict is built on a fun intrigue and 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. There lived poets who composed folk songs called val de Vire, translated - “Virsky Valley”. Later, the word changed to voix de ville (literally "provincial voice"). Finally, in French, the term took shape in vaudeville, which means vaudeville. So called literary creations, in which events were stated through the prism of simple-minded, uncomplicated perception. Initially, these were only street comic songs performed by wandering artists. Only in the eighteenth century did playwrights appear who, focusing on the nature of these songs, began to compose plays with similar subjects and in similar styles. Since the texts were poetic, music easily fell on them. However, the actors improvised the plays in the process of performing the plays, they did it most often in prose, and therefore playwrights also began to alternate poetic pieces of text with prosaic.
Vaudeville and operetta
Art historians say that from this moment on the vaudeville had a younger sister - the operetta, which, however, very soon became extremely popular. The operetta was dominated by singing, and in vaudeville - conversations. The specialization of form was followed by a slight difference in content. Vaudeville is not a satirical, but rather a humorous depiction of the life and customs of people of the middle class. Comedic situations in it develop rapidly, rapidly and often grotesquely.
Features of the genre
One of the characteristic features of the works of this genre is the actor’s constant appeal to the viewer during the action. Also, the specificity of vaudeville is a mandatory repetition of the same song verses. The vaudeville features made it a welcome part of any benefit. An actor giving such a performance, after serious dramatic monologues, can please the public, presenting in a completely different way. In addition, vaudeville is a great opportunity to demonstrate vocal and dance data.
Impact on cultural traditions
Vaudeville in the era of its origin was very fond of the inhabitants of different countries and continents, but in every culture he went his own way. In America, for example, a music hall and other bright, amazingly imaginative show programs grew out of it. In Russia, vaudeville brought to life jokes and comic operas. Absolutely vaudeville content of some brilliant works of A.P. Chekhov (“Proposal”, “Bear”, “Drama”, etc.).
Sample Russian vaudeville
“Miller is a sorcerer, a deceiver and a matchmaker” - the sparkling comic play by Alexander Ablesimov in the spirit of a 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 Anyuta, born of a noblewoman, but married to a peasant, by all means impedes the wedding of her daughter, who chose a peasant boyfriend as her husband. The girl’s father does not want to take him as a son-in-law. The conflict is called to resolve the cunning and enterprising miller Thaddeus. Since the village belief says that all the millers are sorcerers, Thaddeus does not miss the chance to take advantage of this, believing that witchcraft is nothing but a hoax. He becomes a matchmaker and, finding his “key” to each, he successfully convinces Anyuta's parents that they cannot find a better son-in-law. This funny comedy of provisions has everything that includes the meaning of the word vaudeville.