The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
PARLANCE OF THE Stage
Language Traditional to Thespians
for Centuries.
The Dramatic Unities-Origin of Old
Phrases-Performnn That Have,
i'm All Ages, Amused the Multitude
The Mimics of Greece and Rome.
Origin of the Word "ynutieviIIe."

Everyone has heard of the dramatic
unities, but few perhaps have a more def
mite idea of what they really are than that
| expressed by Mr. Curdle namely "a general
oneness" As a matter of fact the term
dramatic untties" has reference to the
rule laid down by Aristotle and utterly dis
, regarded by every writer With whose
works the modern stage is familiar, that a
tragedy should contain but one catastro-
phe: should be limited 10 one scene; and
confined to the action OF single day.
The origin of many common expressions
used in connection with the theatrical pro-
fession is interesting to trace Thus. the
phrase sock and buskln" Qiterally,
comedy and tragedy') arose from the
use in ancient Rome of the soccus, or low
shoe, by the comic actors; while the bus
kin. contraction of the French word
brossequin, is remotely derived from the
Greek bursa, a hide, or high-soled shoe
worn by the ancient tragedians to increase
their height. The soccus reached to the
ankle only, whereas the buskin extended
to the knee The expression Ito go busk-
ing" is still common among actors. mean
ing, in more Ineligible vernacular, to
pick up small moneys by reciting heroic
speeches in country towns at the sea-
side when a legitimate engagement can
not be obtained.
The word tragedy is derived from the
Greek tragos, meaning a goat. an ode.
song. 1t originally denoted the song or
chorus that accompanied the sacrifice of
goat upon the altar of the gods. Comedy.
the Anglcised form of the Latin comoe-
dia, comes from the Greet Komos, fes-
tive procession. and oedeni. to sing. re-
ferring to the ode sung during the pro-
gress of the pageant. Farce is derived
from the Latin facire. to stuff. This was
in alluson to the custom of the ancient
buffoons padding out their clothing to alb
normal proportions. AT later date the
padding was discarded. but the wide gar
ments were still retained and. indeed,
may be said to survive even now in the
conventional costume of our clowns and
pierots. Comedietta signifies a short COM
edy in one act; farcical comedy expresses
a comedy whose plot and action partake
of broad or farcical character; while
melodrama originally denoted (melns.
song, and drama) a dramatic performance
interspersed with songs. The term, how
ever is now applied to performance
which combines the elements of pseudo
tragedy and comedy. depending for effect
largely upon situation rather than dia-
logue or plot.
The term vaudeville is derived from
Vaudevire. a village in Normandy. the
birthplace of the poet Oliver Basselin
(died 11iS) who composed songs much in
the manner of those in vogue at vaude-
vile performances of the present day.
Burlesque is a deriyative of burletta, the
older form of short, light. musical en-
tertainment. Both originate in the Ital-
ian burlescO, based upon burla. mockery,
and burlare. to ridicule. The designa-
ton travesty claims the same origin as
the French travester, to disguise. namely,
the two Latin words trans. over, across, |
and vestire, to dress. The general ac-
ceptance of a traYesty is a parody on a
particular play, and the mannerisms OF
well-known actors taking part therein; |
whereas burlesque has come to be ap |
piled to a performance more remarkable |
for spectacular gorgeousness of produc- |
ton than brilliancy of dialogue or unity |
of plot.
The pantomime has died out in this |
country. but it still charms the popula |
ton of England. young and old at Christ |
mas time This show, however, as now |
represented. has nothing in common with |
its original purpose. II was the business |
of certain individuals among the Romans |
to follow in the train of funeral pro- |
cession for the purpose of initiating In |
dumb snow the actions OF the deceased
These performers were called mimi, the |
plural of mime. from which is derived |
the word mimic. and their performance
bore the name pantomime. the Greek
term for all-imitating; because they imi-
tated everything. pantomime. there
fore. should. TO conform with its designa
ton. be all dumb show, as in the case of
a ballet d'action. that is. dance of ac-
ton or suggestion and as was the case
in the Italian comedy. TO which is owing
The origin of the modern pantomime OF
At later period, the SER
vices of the mines were made use of in
he homes of the wealthy, where they
in dumb show all that an
other set Of performers sang in chorus.
From this early stage, the art of panto
mime soon found its way into the thea
re. and so popular did 1t become from
he time of its very initiation that at
me period 1t threatened to displace the
regular drama. The etymology OF the
ERIN harlequin cannot be satisfactorily
raced. 1t is, however, probably that this
vas the name of an actual person met
With in the district of Bergamo, in italy.
whence the characters of clown and Har-
equin were originally drawn. Clown,