Petrushka
Petrushka (Петрушка) is the name of a buffoon of popular Russian puppet theater ( rajok ), which became particularly popular in the 17th century. The name, a diminutive of " Pyotr " (Пётр, Peter ) means parsley in Russian . Nonetheless, the figure differs significantly from Western models such as Pierrot . Petrushka rather represents the Russian Kasper or Pulcinella . Petrushkas appeared both as marionettes and as hand puppets . Petrushka was originally a character in the typical slapstick comedy for an adult audience. With the gradual development of puppet theater into children's theater, the proverbial vulgarity and aggressiveness of Petrushka disappeared.
Influences
Both Western and Russian influences are reflected in the Russian puppet figure. While the Marionettenkasperl, the North German, Saxon, South German-Austrian as well as the Bohemian-Czech, was derived from Hanswurst and the puppet figure Johann Josef La Roches , the hand puppet kasperl was the offspring of a clan going back to the Italian Pulcinella. Like the Italian model, the transcultural descendants of Pulcinella were rowdy, violent and mean, big eaters and drunkards too. The Russian influences go back to the tradition of minstrels and buffoons. However, since there are sources that prove that these hand puppets appeared much earlier, it can be assumed that Petrushka already existed in the Middle Ages, represented by the jugglers. The Russian word skomoroch is related to the Italian / French Scaramouche .
Hand puppet show and the appearance of Petrushka in the theater
The first news about the Russian hand puppet show comes from Adam Olearius , who saw it in Moscow in 1643. This also gives a representation of the theater at that time. One man was dressed in a sackcloth wrap that was tied at the hips and had an opening at the top. The players were often accompanied by an organ grinder or violin player. Around 1840, the character of Petrushka, initially played by foreigners, was gradually adopted by the Russians. The Petrushka hand puppet show was a popular type of street theater in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Due to the immediacy of the street theater to the audience, this was the right place to express the interests and concerns of the poorer population. In contrast to the large theaters that were in the front row of the marketplaces, the puppet theaters were more likely to have a seat in the back row, in inferior places, often near the carousels. Having a portable theater made the puppeteers mobile and very flexible in terms of their location. Towards the end of the 19th century, Petrushka plays were also performed in suburbs and holiday resorts, or the puppeteers were hired for children's birthday parties. Due to the development towards children's theater, the texts had to be modified, and pressure was exerted by lawyers and educators. On the street and in fairgrounds, however, Petrushka remained a play for the lower classes.
Appearance and appearance
Petrushka speaks in a shrill voice. Usually he appeared as a clown in a red dress, red cap (Kolpak) and often with a long nose. With the gradual development of puppet theater into children's theater, the proverbial vulgarity and aggressiveness of Petrushka disappeared.
Petrushka as a folk hero
Maxim Gorky regards Petrushka as an indestructible, oppositional hero of the people. He is referring to Petrushka's victories over his opponents. It is possible for him to overcome all evil and to walk out of every encounter as a winner. He defeats the police, the pastor, the devil and death too. This characteristic, transferred from the people to the hero, testifies to the belief in the invincibility of the good person and the overcoming of obstacles.
Petrushka in art
Igor Stravinsky created an artistic monument for the figure with his ballet "Petrushka" .
See also
literature
- Catriona Kelly: Petrushka. The russian carnival puppet theater.
- Ingrid Ramm-Bonwitt: The comical tragedy. Volume 2: buffoons in puppet theater: the traditions of comic theater characters.
Web links
- Petrushka in the encyclopedia "Krugosvet" (Russian)
- PDF at lithes.uni-graz.at