Theater of Petrushka: history, performances. Puppet show

It is believed that the birthplace of the modern puppet theater is India and Ancient China. Later this kind of democratic art was brought by vagrant artists, possibly Gypsies, to Ancient Greece, and from there spread throughout Europe. When puppeteers appeared in our country, it is for certain unknown, but the Russian people's Petrushka Theater for about three centuries enjoyed immense popularity among people of all ages and classes.

Prehistory

Researchers believe that in Russia there were 3 types of puppet theater :

• Puppet, in which the dolls were controlled with the help of thread;
• Petrushka's theater - with figures of characters, put on the fingers of the puppeteer;
• Den - theater, in which the dolls were immovably fixed on the rods and moved along the slots made in a special box.

The latter option was popular only in the southern regions of the country and in Siberia, and until the end of the 19th century puppets, because of the complexity of the figures, were used quite rarely. Thus, speaking of Russian pre-revolutionary puppet shows, the Petrushka theater is most often referred to. He received his name on behalf of the main character of merry performances, played out on the street.

Who is Petrushka

Such a nickname was given to a glove doll, which was usually dressed in a red shirt, canvas trousers and a pointed cap with a brush. Until now, it is not entirely clear why her features were traditionally given to "non-Russian" features. In particular, he has an excessively large head and arms, a swarthy face, huge almond-shaped eyes and a nose with a hump. Most likely, the appearance of Petrushka is due to the fact that it was created in the image and likeness of the Italian Pulcinella.

As for the nature of the character, it is a rogue and a swindler to whom no laws are written.

The appearance of Parsley

In Russia, a glove doll with strange features and named Ivan Ratutu appeared in the 17th century. However, the greatest distribution and its final name was received only 200 years later. By the way, Petrushka himself was represented as Peter Ivanovich (sometimes Petrovich) Vinegar.

Description of the theater at an early stage

In the 17th century, performances were played without a screen. More precisely, the traditional theater Petrushka assumed the participation of only one actor who tied a skirt to his belt. To her hem was sewn a hoop, raising which the puppeteer was hidden from prying eyes. He could freely move his hands and present skits with the participation of two characters. In this case, the comedian almost always worked in tandem with the bear leader and also performed the functions of a clown.

Description of the theater after the middle of the 19th century

From the 1840s, a screen was used. It consisted of three frames, which were fastened with staples and tightened with chintz. She was put directly to the ground, and she hid the puppeteer. An obligatory attribute, without which it was impossible to imagine the theater of Petrushka, was a barrel organ. Her sounds called the audience, and behind the screen the comedian communicated with the audience through a special whistle. During the performance, he could run out to the audience in Petrushka costume: with a long nose and a red cap. At the same time, the organ-grinder became his partner, and together they played comic skits.

Puppeteers

The Petrushka Theater, whose history has not been fully studied, was considered purely male. To the voice of the puppeteer was more squeaky and loud, a special whistle was used, which was inserted into the larynx. In addition, the puppeteer tried to speak very quickly and disgustingly at every joke.

Plots

The plays of the theater (Petrushka was their main, but not the only hero) were rather monotonous. The main subjects: the treatment and training of soldiers, a date with the bride, the purchase and testing of the horse. Scenes followed one after another in a certain order. At the same time, the length of the performance depended on how long the audience honored this street performance with their attention.

The action took place in the following sequence:

• Parsley decides to buy a horse from a gypsy-baryshnik. He traded with the seller for a long time. Then this activity bothers him, and he beats the gypsy who runs away.
• Parsley tries to climb the horse, but she throws it and goes after the mistress, leaving the cunning to lie motionless.
• The doctor comes. He asks Petrushka about his illness. It turns out that he has a thousand diseases. Doctor and Petrushka are fighting, as the patient calls the doctor ignorant. The bully strikes the medic heavily on the head with a club.
• Quarterly appears and asks Petrushka why he killed the doctor. The Dodger answers that he "knows his science badly". Then Petrushka hits the quarter with a club and kills him. The dog comes running. Parsley addresses the public and asks her for help. Then he tries to appease the dog and promises to feed her with the meat of cats. The dog grabs Petrusha by the nose and drags him away. This concludes the performance, and the audience dispersed.

Petrushkina wedding

Sometimes, usually during the Carnival and other folk festivals, the performance at the request of the public could last even longer. Then they played the scene "Petrushka's Wedding". Her story was rude and frivolous. Petrushka was brought to the bride, whom he examined as if it were a horse. After he agreed to marry, the bride began to persuade her to "sacrifice herself" long before the wedding. From that moment on, the spectators went away, taking the children away. The remaining men listened enthusiastically to the greasy jokes of Petrushka.

There was also a sketch with a priest or a deacon. However, due to censorship, she did not enter any of the collections where the texts of the performances with Petrushka were recorded.

"Death"

Among the characters of the theater Petrushka was one of the most sinister, which defeated the main character. It was Death, which after a verbal skirmish took Petrushka with her. However, soon the hero resurrected elsewhere. This circumstance became a reason for the fact that some researchers began to find a connection between Petrushka and pagan deities, who died endlessly and reborn here and there.

Puppet theaters in Moscow

Before the October Revolution, there were no such permanent cultural institutions, and the performances were arranged by singles on the streets or in the buffoons, or they were invited to private homes to entertain guests. The first real puppet theaters of Moscow appeared in the early 1930s. The most famous of them eventually became the largest in the world. This is the theater. S. Obraztsova. It is located at: ul. Sadovaya-Samotechnaya, etc. 3. In addition to this, at about the same time, the Moscow Puppet Theater appeared in the capital, originally created to popularize children's literature. He toured the country and introduced the audience to the new works of Soviet authors, written specifically for the younger generation.

Later, other puppet theaters of Moscow appeared: Albatross, Firebird, Fabulous, Chamber, and others. In them you can see not only children's performances, but also performances specially created for adults.

Puppet theater "Petrushka"

To preserve the traditions of Russian street performances for children and adults, Andrei Shavel and artist Valentina Smirnova organized a new creative team. It was named the Russian folk theater Petrushka and debuted in 1989 in the town of Fresno.

The theater organizes performances lasting 30 minutes right on the street and tries not to depart from the traditional scenes of farce performances.

The emergence of the theater "Petrushka" is associated with the desire of its creators to preserve the best that was in the street mass art of the past centuries.

Performances are played in the premises. In such cases, spectators are also introduced to the history of Petrushka and the Russian Balagan Theater. In their work, actors use props, which are an exact copy of the screens and dolls that their predecessors had, entertaining the public on the streets of Russian cities 150-200 years ago.

Now you know how the puppet Russian folk theater originated. Parsley is also of interest to children today, so be sure to take them to some kind of performance in a bohemian style.