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Theater «Petrushka»

Petrushka (Russian: Петру́шка, IPA: [pʲɪtˈruʂkə] ^ⓘ) is a stock character of Russian folk puppetry (rayok) known at least since 17th century. Petrushkas were used as marionettes, as well as hand puppets. Traditionally he was a kind of a jester distinguished by red dress, red kolpak, and often a long nose.

Word origin

Although the Russian word "petrushka" has a homonym meaning "parsley," in this context the word is actually a hypocoristic (diminutive) for "Pyotr" (Пётр), which is Peter in Russian. However, the character has little or nothing in common with such stock characters as Petruccio or Pierrot. Petrushka is rather a Russian Punch or Pulcinella in character.

History

Pietro-Mira Pedrillo of Italy, the court jester of the Empress Anna Ioannovna, allegedly served as a prototype for Petrushka.

Like Punch, Petrushka’s voice was created with the help of a special whistle, and the dialogue was based on a momentary change of the pishchik and the “live” voice of other characters. There were a number of basic plots: the medical treatment of Petrushka, his learning of soldier’s service, the scene with his bride, and the buying of a horse and testing it.

Initially, Petrushka was characteristic of typical slapstick comedy, targeting an adult audience. As puppet theatre gradually became a predominantly children's entertainment, Petrushka became less vulgar and aggressive. In the Soviet Union, Petrushka appeared widely in agitprop theater, defending poor peasants and attacking kulaks.^[1]

The Russian Children's Welfare Society (RCWS) hosts an annual "Petroushka Ball", which is named after a version of the Petrushka character who fell in love with a graceful ballerina.^[2]

References

^ Richard Pipes, Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime, p305, ISBN 978-0-394-50242-7
^ RCWS.org

External links

This puppet-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Richard Pipes, Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime, p305, ISBN 978-0-394-50242-7

[2] RCWS.org

[1]

[2]

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 ==History==
-It was the Empress [[Anna of Russia|Anna Ioannovna]]’s court jester Pietro-Mira Pedrillo from Italy, who served as a prototype for Petrushka.
+Pietro-Mira Pedrillo of Italy, the court jester of the Empress [[Anna of Russia|Anna Ioannovna]], allegedly served as a prototype for Petrushka.
-Petrushka’s voice was created with the help of a special whistle, and the dialogue was based on a momentary change of the pishchik and the “live” voice of other characters. There were a number of basic plots: the medical treatment of Petrushka, his learning of soldier’s service, the scene with his bride, the buying of a horse and testing it.
+Like Punch, Petrushka’s voice was created with the help of a special whistle, and the dialogue was based on a momentary change of the pishchik and the “live” voice of other characters. There were a number of basic plots: the medical treatment of Petrushka, his learning of soldier’s service, the scene with his bride, and the buying of a horse and testing it.
-Initially, Petrushka was a character of typical [[slapstick comedy]] targeting the adult audience. As puppet theatre gradually became predominantly children's entertainment, Petrushka became less vulgar and aggressive.  In the [[Soviet Union]], Petrushka appeared widely in [[agitprop]] theater, defending poor peasants and attacking [[kulak]]s.<ref>[[Richard Pipes]], ''Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime'', p305, {{ISBN|978-0-394-50242-7}}</ref>
+Initially, Petrushka was characteristic of typical [[slapstick comedy]], targeting an adult audience. As puppet theatre gradually became a predominantly children's entertainment, Petrushka became less vulgar and aggressive.  In the [[Soviet Union]], Petrushka appeared widely in [[agitprop]] theater, defending poor peasants and attacking [[kulak]]s.<ref>[[Richard Pipes]], ''Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime'', p305, {{ISBN|978-0-394-50242-7}}</ref>
-Russian Children's Welfare Society (RCWS) hosts annual "Petroushka Ball", which is named after Petrushka character who fell in love with a graceful [[ballerina]].<ref>[http://www.rcws.org/events_petroushka.htm RCWS.org]</ref>
+The [[Russian Children's Welfare Society]] (RCWS) hosts an annual "Petroushka Ball", which is named after a version of the Petrushka character who fell in love with a graceful [[ballerina]].<ref>[http://www.rcws.org/events_petroushka.htm RCWS.org]</ref>
 == See also ==

v t e Russian handicrafts
Decorative arts	Gorodets painting Gzhel Filimonovo toy Kholmogory bone carving Khokhloma Russian lacquer art Fedoskino miniature Kholuy miniature Mstyora miniature Palekh miniature Russian icons Zhostovo painting
Tableware	Kasli iron sculpture Faceted glass Podstakannik Samovar
Clothing	Afghanka Budenovka French Gymnastyorka Kokoshnik Kosovorotka Kaftan Lapti Orenburg shawl Pavlovo Posad shawl Peaked cap Podvorotnichok Russian lace Sailor cap Sarafan Stalinka Telnyashka Ushanka Valenki
Musical instruments	Balalaika Garmon Gusli Bayan Russian guitar Musical spoons Treshchotka
Toys	Bird of Happiness Cheburashka Filimonovo toy Dymkovo toys Kargopol toys Matryoshka doll Petrushka
Other	Izba Fabergé egg Shashka Tula pryanik Vyazma pryanik