Petrushka

Petrushka ( Петрушка ) is the name of a buffoon of the Russian folk puppet theater ( Rayok ), which was especially popular in the 17th century. The name, a diminutive of " Peter " ( Пётр, Peter ), in the Russian language means parsley. The figure nevertheless is quite different from Western models such as the Pierrot. Petrushka is more of the Russian Kasper Pulcinella and Petrushka dar. occurred both as puppets as well as hand puppets. Originally Petrushka was a figure of the typical slapstick comedy for an adult audience. With the gradual development of the puppet theater for children theater waned the proverbial vulgarity and aggressiveness of Petrushka.

Influences

In the Russian Kasper figure, both Western as well as Russian influences reflect. During the Marionette Puppet, both the North German, Saxon, Southern Germany and Austria and the Bohemian- Czech, to herleitete of buffoon and puppet - character Johann Josef La Roche, was the puppets Puppet scion of a going back to the Italian Pulcinella clan. As the Italian model were the descendants of transcultural Pulcinella rude, violent and mean, great glutton and a drunkard so. The Russian influences go back to the tradition of minstrels and buffoons. But since there are also sources that demonstrate a much earlier appearance of these hand puppets, it is likely that there Petrushka quite already in the Middle Ages was represented by the jugglers. The Russian word skomorokh is related to the English scaramouch, the Joker.

Hand puppet and the appearance of Petrushka in the theater

The first mention of the Russian hand puppet is from Adam Orlearius, who saw it in 1643 in Moscow. This is also a representation of the former theater. One man was wearing a bag-like union, which was tied at the hips and had a top opening. The players were often accompanied by an organ grinder or violin player. Around 1840, the figure of Petrushka, first played by non-Russians, gradually taken over by the Russians. The Petrushka hand puppet belonged in the 19th and 20th centuries, mainly located in St. Petersburg and Moscow, a popular kind of street theater. Due to the immediacy of street theater to the audience this was the right place to bring the interests and concerns of the poor expressed. In contrast to the large theaters that were on the market places in the front row, had the puppet theater rather a place in the back row, to inferior courts, often near the carousels. The fact that the puppeteer had a portable theater, they were mobile and very flexible, which its location was concerned. Towards the end of the 19th century Petrushka pieces were also listed in suburbs and resorts or the puppeteers were committed to children's birthday parties. Through the development towards children's theater, the texts had to be modified by lawyers and educators pressure was applied. On the road and in fairgrounds, however Petrushka remained a theater piece for the lower layers.

Demeanor and appearance

Petrushka speaks with a high-pitched voice. Usually, he appeared as a clown in a red dress, red cap ( Kolpak ), often with a long nose in appearance. With the gradual development of the puppet theater for children theater waned the proverbial vulgarity and aggressiveness of Petrushka.

Petrushka as a folk hero

Maxim Gorky Petrushka considered as an indestructible, oppositional heroes of the people. He refers to the victories of Petrushka over his opponents. For him it is possible to overcome all evil and to go as a winner from each encounter. He defeated the Police, the pastor, the devil and death. This characteristic, transmitted by the people on the hero, is evidence of the belief in the invincibility of the good man and the overcoming of obstacles.

Petrushka in art

Igor Stravinsky set the figure with his ballet " Petrushka " an artistic monument.