Farce

In theatre, a farce is a comedy that aims at entertaining the audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, and thus improbable.[1] Farce is also characterized by physical humor, the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense, and broadly stylized performances. It is also often set in one particular location, where all events occur. Farces have been written for the stage and film.

Petrov-Vodkin's Theatre Farce
Poster for a production of Boucicault's farce Contempt of Court, c. 1879

The term farce is derived from the French word for "stuffing", in reference to improvisations applied by actors to medieval religious dramas. Later forms of this drama were performed as comical interludes during the 15th and 16th centuries.[2] The oldest surviving farce may be Le Garçon et l'aveugle (The Boy and the Blind Man) from after 1266, although the earliest farces that can be dated come from between 1450 and 1550. The best known farce is La Farce de maître Pathelin (The Farce of Master Pathelin) from c. 1460.[3]

Examples

Classical antiquity

Britain

China

France
La Farce de maître Pierre Pathelin

Germany

India

Theatre

Farces are particularly popular in Marathi and Gujarati language theatre. A few such examples:

  • Zopi Gelela Jaga Zala (1958)
  • Dinuchya Sasubai Radhabai (1960)
  • Pala Pala Kon Pudhe Pale To
  • Gholaat Ghol

Film

Television

Italy

Japan
  • Japan has a centuries-old tradition of farce plays called kyōgen. These plays are performed as comic relief during the long, serious Noh plays.

Pakistan

Theatre

Following stage shows of Umer Shareef are extremely popular:

  • Bakra Qistoon Pay
  • Buddha Ghar Pe Hai
  • Yes Sir Eid, No Sir Eid

Television

Poland

Russia

Spain

United States

Film

Television

Theatre

References
  1. "farce - Free On-Line English Dictionary - Thesaurus - Children's, Intermediate Dictionary - Wordsmyth".
  2. Birch, Dinah, ed. (2009). The Oxford Companion to English Literature (7th ed.). OUP Oxford. p. 1043. ISBN 0191030848.
  3. Hollier, Denis; Bloch, R. Howard, eds. (1994). A New History of French Literature. Harvard University Press. p. 126. ISBN 0674615662.
  4. Christopher Rea, "The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China" (University of California Press, 2015), ch. 5: "Farce"
  5. Tianyi, Zhang (1918–1948). The Bulwark. New York: Columbia UP.
  6. "Zhang Tianyi's Swindling for National Salvation".
  7. "Bio Camoletti". Archived from the original on 2004-07-01. Retrieved 2006-05-08.
  8. "Weekend im Paradies von Franz Arnold und Ernst Bach". Felix Bloch Erben GmbH & Co. KG - Theater-Verlag Desch.
  9. European Authors 1000–1900. The H. W. Wilson Company, Bronx, 2000. ISBN 0-8242-0013-6.
  10. Teresa Murjas (2007). "Zapolska, Gabriela: The Morality of Mrs. Dulska". The University of Chicago Press Books. Archived from the original on 2007-05-20. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
  11. August Grodzicki, "Bardzo polska tragikomedia." Życie Warszawy nr 5; 07-01-1976
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