M.: Type. T-va I.D. Sytina, 1918. 20 p., ill. 20.4x15 cm. In the publisher's illustrated chromolithographed cover. The famous "Sytin" popular print book for children.
Parsley- one of the characters in Russian folk puppet shows. Depicted in a red shirt, canvas pants and a pointed cap with a tassel; Traditionally, Parsley is a glove puppet (glove doll). Parsley is “the nickname of a farcical doll, a Russian jester, a jokester, a wit in a red caftan and a red cap; their name is also Petrushka, all buffoonish, puppet nativity scene" The origin of this doll, which appeared in Russia in the second half of the 19th century, has not been reliably clarified. Although in Russia Parsley has been known since the 17th century. Russian puppeteers used marionettes (string puppet theater) and parsleys (glove puppets). Until the 19th century, preference was given to Parsley, by the end of the century - to marionettes, as parsley makers united with organ grinders. Petrushka's appearance is by no means Russian: he has an exaggerated big hands and the head, the facial features are hypertrophied, the face itself (carved from wood) is treated with a special plant liquid, which makes it look darker; large almond-shaped eyes and a huge hooked nose, completely white eyeballs and a dark iris, due to which Parsley’s eyes appear black. He inherited Parsley's appearance from the Italian Pulcinella. Many people mistakenly believe that Parsley’s wide-open mouth is a smile, but this is not so; being negative character, Petrushka constantly stretches her lips in a grin. He has four fingers on his hands (a possible symbol that Petrushka is not a person, but some character from another world). A typical misconception is to revere Petrushka as an extremely ancient and primordially Russian hero, based on his archetypal character traits, which originated in the depths of human ideas about themselves. Parsley is the younger relative of the older ones: the Neapolitan Pulcinella, the French Polichinelle, the English Punch, the Turkish Karagöz, the German Hanswurst and Kasperle, the Spanish Don Cristobal and others - despite the fact that all of them are theatrical puppets and are controlled using threads. The only analogue of Petrushka in terms of driving technique is the Guignol glove doll, which appeared in Lyon in early XIX century. The famous Russian writer Maxim Gorky, characterizing the image of Parsley, wrote the following:
“...a figure was created... known to all nations...
This invincible hero folk puppet comedy, he defeats everyone and everything: the police, priests, even the devil and death, but he himself remains immortal. In a crude and naive image, the working people embodied themselves and their belief that in the end, it is they who will overcome everything and everyone.” The parsley screen consisted of three frames, fastened with staples and covered with chintz. It was placed directly on the ground and hid the puppeteer. The barrel organ gathered spectators, and behind the screen the actor began to communicate with the audience through a peep (whistle). Later, with laughter and reprise, he ran out himself, in a red cap and with a long nose. The organ grinder sometimes became Petrushka's partner: because of the squeak, speech was not always intelligible, and he repeated Petrushka's phrases and conducted a dialogue. The comedy with Petrushka was played out at fairs and booths. In Russia, only men “drove” Petrushka. To make the voice louder and squeakier (this was necessary both for audibility at fair performances and for the special character of the character), they used a special squeak inserted into the larynx. Petrushka's speech had to be “piercing” and very fast. Before mid-19th centuries in Russia, Parsley did not yet have its current name. Most often he was then called “Ivan Ratyutyu” or “Ivan Ratatouille” (which gives French roots dolls). There is a version about the origin of the nickname Parsley from Ukrainian word“command” (save). The current name came to Petrushka after the appearance of the miniature “Petrushka and the Policeman” among his many everyday scenes, in which, during numerous attacks, the policeman says to Petrushka:
“You don’t even have a passport!”
to which Petrushka proudly replies:
"Eat! According to my passport, I am Pyotr Ivanovich Uksusov!”
From some memoirs and diaries of the 1840s it follows that Petrushka was called Pyotr Ivanovich Uksusov. The famous Russian puppeteer Sergei Obraztsov called Petrushka Pyotr Petrovich Uksusov (the story “The Four Brothers”) or Vanka Ratatouille. There were main plots: Parsley's treatment, soldier training, the scene with the bride, buying a horse and testing it. The stories were passed from actor to actor, by word of mouth. Not a single character in the Russian theater had the popularity equal to Petrushka. According to a widespread but unproven version, plays with the participation of Petrushka were still part of the repertoire of buffoons and consisted of humorous skits and dialogues. Each scene depicted a fight between Petrushka and one character or another (fights were carried out using fists, sticks, etc.). Usually the performance began with the following plot: Petrushka decides to buy a horse, the musician calls the gypsy horse dealer. Parsley examines the horse for a long time and bargains with the gypsy for a long time. Then Petrushka gets tired of the bargaining, and instead of money, he beats the gypsy on the back for a long time, after which he runs away. Petrushka tries to mount the horse, but it throws him off to the laughter of the audience. This could continue until people laughed it off. Finally the horse runs away, leaving Petrushka lying dead. The doctor comes and asks Petrushka about his illnesses. It turns out that everything hurts. A fight ensues between the Doctor and Petrushka, at the end of which Petrushka hits the enemy hard on the head with a baton.
“What kind of doctor are you?” Petrushka shouted,- when you ask, where does it hurt? Why did you study? You yourself should know where it hurts!”
The quarterly appears.
- “Why did you kill the doctor?”
He answers:
“Because he doesn’t know his science well.”
After the interrogation, Petrushka hits the policeman on the head with a club and kills him. A growling dog comes running. Parsley unsuccessfully asks for help from the audience and the musician, after which he flirts with the dog, promising to feed it cat meat. The dog grabs him by the nose and drags him away, and Petrushka shouts:
- “Oh, my little head with a cap and a brush has disappeared!”
The music stops, signaling the end of the performance. If the audience liked it, then they did not let the actors go, applauded, threw money, demanding a continuation. Then they played a small scene “Petrushka’s Wedding”. A bride is brought to Parsley, he examined her the way a horse is examined. He likes the bride, he doesn’t want to wait for the wedding and begins to beg her to “sacrifice herself.” From the scene where the bride “sacrifices herself,” the women left and took their children with them. According to some reports, another skit in which a clergyman was present was a great success. It was not included in any of the recorded texts; most likely, it was removed by censorship. There were scenes in which Petrushka did not participate. It was dancing and juggling with balls and sticks. Parsley defeated all opponents except one - Death. In the last, final scene, Death took Petrushka with him. However, since Petrushka was used in a farce theater, it is natural that the performance was shown repeatedly and in different places. Thus, Petrushka, who “died” for one circle of viewers, “resurrected” for another. This gives researchers reason to draw parallels between the image of Parsley and many different pagan gods, endlessly dying and resurrecting.
Here is what Alexander Benois remembers about Petrushka:
“In fact, the first performances that I enjoyed were the performances of Petrushka. In any case, I remember Petrushka at the dacha, when we still lived in the Cavalier Houses. Already from afar you can hear a piercing squeal, laughter and some words - all this pronounced by the Petrushechnik through a special machine, which he placed behind his cheek (the same sound can be reproduced if you close both nostrils with your finger). The colorful chintz screens are quickly set up, the “musician” places his organ-organ on the folding trestle, the nasal, plaintive sounds it makes are tuned to a special mood... And then a tiny and very ugly man appears above the screens. He has a huge nose, and on his head is a pointed hat with a red top. He is unusually agile and nimble, his hands are tiny, but he gestures very expressively with them, and he deftly threw his thin legs over the side of the screen. Immediately, Petrushka teases the organ grinder with stupid and impudent questions... Petrushka takes care of the terribly ugly Akulina Petrovna, he proposes to her, she agrees, and both take a kind of wedding walk, holding each other tightly by the hand. But a rival appears - he is a brave, mustachioed policeman, and Akulina apparently gives him preference. Parsley, in a rage, beats the peace officer, for which he ends up as a soldier. But soldier’s teaching and discipline are not given to him, he continues to commit outrages and, horror of horrors, kills his non-commissioned officer. Here comes an unexpected interlude. For no apparent reason, two black araps, dressed in bright costumes, emerge. Each of them has a stick in their hands, which they deftly throw up, throw to each other and, finally, loudly beat each other on the wooden heads with it. The interlude is over. Parsley is on the screen again. He has become even more fidgety, even more active, he enters into daring altercations with the organ grinder, squeals, giggles, but the fatal outcome immediately follows. Suddenly, a figurine gathered into a furry ball appears next to Petrushka. Petrushka is extremely interested in her. He nasally asks the musician what it is, the musician replies: “It’s a lamb.” Parsley is delighted, strokes the “learned, soaked” lamb and sits astride it. The “lamb” obediently makes two or three rounds with its rider along the side of the screen, but then suddenly throws it off, straightens up and, horror of horrors, it is not a lamb at all, but the devil himself. Horned, all overgrown with black hair, with a hooked nose and a long red tongue sticking out of his toothy mouth. The devil butts Petrushka and mercilessly tosses him, so that his arms and legs dangle in all directions, and then drags him to the underworld. Three more times, Petrushka’s pitiful body flies up from some depths, high, high, and then only his dying cry is heard and an “eerie” silence sets in...” Life of an Artist. Memories. Volume 2. Alexander Benois.
It happens in almost all cities, suburbs and villages of Russia.
ACT ONE
Characters:
Parsley, Musician, Gypsy and Horse.
In the distance appears the Musician with a barrel organ, his comrade, the main comedian; he has screens, a box with dolls. Parsley, still sitting in the box, sings in a shrill voice:
Along Piterskaya
Along the path
Petenka is riding
Yes with a bell!
Screens are placed; all this time Petrushka sings and shouts whatever comes into his head. Finally he appears and with a loud laugh sits down on the edge of the screen.
Parsley. Ha ha ha! Dear gentlemen! So I came here, not in a tarantass, but right on an airplane - in an oak box! My respect to you, gentlemen! I am your old friend - Petrushka. I came to amuse you, amuse you and congratulate you on the holiday! ( Addresses the Musician.) The gypsy didn't come?
Musician. It's been waiting for you for a long time.
Parsley. Call here!
Appears Gypsy with a horse.
Gypsy. Hello, Monsieur Shishel-Myshel! I'm the horse breeder who came to you! How are you living? Do you often get sick? I am Gypsy Mora from the Gypsy choir, I sing in a bass voice, eat pineapple, and wash it down with kvass!
Parsley. That's it, grimy face, Humpty Dumpty! Don’t waste your time wagging your tongue, but speak to the point!
Gypsy. My friend, the Englishman Rock, stuck a pitchfork in his side, roams all over Europe, spends the night on Khitrovka every night... Shishel-Myshel, I heard from someone that you need a good horse.
Parsley. Yes, brother, I have been working for a long time - I want to get a race runner. But is your horse good?
Gypsy. Such a horse, master, that without a collar you can drive with four whips... and then only in the wind! Not a horse, but a fire: when it runs, it trembles, stumbles, but if it falls, it doesn’t get up!
Parsley. Oh oh oh! Matchmaker fathers! That's a horse! And what color?
Gypsy. Brown, bay, thin on the sides, with spots, without a tail or mane - shaggy, crooked in one eye, just like you - hunchbacked. Arabian breed, with a certificate.
Parsley. This is the one I need... How much does it cost?
Gypsy. For someone it’s four thousand, but based on an acquaintance I’ll give it to you for two hundred rubles!
Parsley. What did you, grimy, pay dearly for? Or didn't you wake up?
Gypsy. My request is not on your nose! Speak to your heart: how much do you give?
Parsley. A ruble and a quarter.
Gypsy. What a wolf you are, you can even howl like a wolf! Give the kids some extra milk.
Parsley. Well, here's a hundred rubles for you.
Gypsy. Not enough, the master is good! Add more.
Parsley. Do you want one and a half hundred and two kopecks?
Gypsy. There is nothing to do for a dear friend and an earring from his ear! Give me money.
Parsley. Wait, I'll go get my wallet now. (He leaves and quickly returns with a ratchet club and begins to beat Gypsy on the head.) Here you are a hundred, here you are one and a half hundred! (The gypsy runs away.) Hey, hey! Grimy! Wait - there are still two kopecks left! (He laughs and turns to the Musician.) Musician, did I buy a horse cheap?
Musician. What better way! He just acted dishonestly - he didn’t give two kopecks!
Parsley (laughs). And the horse is good - very young! There is not a single tooth in the mouth! (Sits on horseback.) Farewell, Musician, goodbye, gentlemen, guys!
Musician. Where are you, Pyotr Ivanovich, going?
Parsley. From here, through Vologda and Arkhangelsk, I’ll head straight to the Caucasus to drink Kakheti kvass. (The horse kicks.) Whoa! Whoa! Sivka-burka! Hush, you damned one! Otherwise I’ll fall and become hunchbacked for a whole century! (The horse throws Petrushka behind the screen.) Oh, fathers! My daring little head has disappeared! My death is coming!.. Musician. Where is your death, Petra Ivanovich?
Parsley. Oh oh oh! Behind the zemstvo outpost, he's digging potatoes in the garden!
Musician. Don't worry: it won't come soon.
Parsley. Yes, in twenty years, by the Intercession, I will probably die... Call the doctor quickly!
Musician. I'll bring it up in a moment.
ACT TWO
Parsley, Musician and Doctor.
Parsley (lays down and groans).
Let the grave punish me
I am not afraid of my own death!
Included Doctor.
Doctor. Who's sick here? What kind of noise is that? Don't moan, don't scream, but lie still until death! I am a famous doctor-healer, a pharmacist from under the Stone Bridge. The obstetrician and farrier, the whole Zatsepsky Val knows me! All sciences originated in Italy and much further; performed operations in Paris and here closer to us! I have talent, I know how to heal: whoever comes to me on his feet will leave me on crutches or be carried on a log. Where is the patient?
Parsley. Father the horse-doctor, the pharmacist from under the bridge! Have pity on me, an orphan, don’t ruin me: don’t carry me on a log, but it’s better in a carriage.
Doctor. Well, tell me about your pain: inside or outside? Here or here? (He feels Petrushka.)
Parsley. Here, between the shoulder blades, near the pit of the stomach, and the right bridge of the ankle is aching.
Doctor. Here?
Parsley. Lower and to the left!
Doctor. Here?
Parsley. Higher to the right!
Doctor. What a fool you are! With you you will lose all peace. Now lower, now higher! Stand up and point it out!
Parsley. Father Doctor, I don’t have the strength to get up! Apparently, my illness dragged on for forty years. Oh oh! Now I’ll get up and show you. (He gets up with difficulty, leaves and returns with a stick, which he uses to hit the Doctor on the head, neck and back.) This is where it hurts! It's moaning here! It hurts in this place, but it’s brainy here!
The doctor runs away.
ACT THREE
Parsley, Musician and German.
German (sings and dances). Tra-la-la! Tra-la-la!
Appears Parsley.
Parsley. Musician, what kind of scarecrow is this?
Musician. And this is a foreign person, he doesn’t speak Russian, ask him in French.
Parsley. How is this in French?
Musician. Parlay-vous-France, Alphonse Rallet.
Parsley. Hey Mister Monsieur! Parlais-vous-france? (The German bows silently.) What the hell! Yes, he doesn’t know a damn thing in French! He must be a German from the Green Isles. Let me ask him in German... Sprechen-si-deutsch, Ivan Andreich?
German. Oh me! Their spreche gut.
Parsley. Who is being burned here? Speak Moscow.
German. Main liberger, you?
Parsley. What kind of kvass did you find here? It’s better if I bring you a glass! (He hits the German with a stick, he runs away.) Musician, where has the German gone? He must have run to drink kvass... I’ll go grab a glass too!
Musician. Wait, he’ll be back now, he probably wants to treat you.
Parsley. That is good! In the meantime, I’ll sing a song. (Sings, shaking his head sadly.)"In the evening of a stormy autumn..." (The German appears, hits Petrushka on the head with a stick and quickly disappears.) What a wonder this is, brother Musician: it was as if a mosquito was flying and touched me on the back of the head with its wing! (The German appears again and bows.) Yeah! Sprechen-see-deutsch is back! Musician, why can’t you see his bottle, but some kind of stick?
Musician. It's his corkscrew.
Parsley. Nice corkscrew! Now I’ll give him a corkscrew! (He snatches the stick from the German and hits him on the head several times; the German falls on the barrier.)
Musician. What have you done, villain! After all, you killed him.
Parsley. Bought? Why do I need it? If you want, I'll give it to you for free - completely with tripe and bones.
Musician. What do I need it for? You'll end up in court with him!
Parsley. Well, I'll sell it at the market. (Puts the German on his back, spins with him in all directions and screams.) Piglets! Piglets! I'll sell it cheap to anyone who needs it!.. (Hides.)
ACT FOUR
Parsley, Musician and then Corporal.
Parsley(dancing and singing).
Everyone knows I'm for grabs,
At least I’m ready to swear to you, -
From Varvarka to Arbat
And to Presnensky Ponds!..
Appears Corporal, Parsley instantly disappears.
Cpl. Musician, where did Petrushka disappear?
Musician. I can’t know, Mr. Corporal! He went left, or maybe turned right.
Only Parsley's head is visible from behind the screen.
Parsley. Musician, tell him that I went to Paris...
Corporal (turns quickly and grabs Petrushka). So I’ll show you, you swindler, Paris - you’ll get a kick out of it! You keep getting rowdy here and being rude to noble people! You scream, you yell, you don’t give peace to all of Moscow! So, my dear, I’ll take you as a soldier without a deadline!.. You’ll start kicking frogs out from under my guns.
Parsley. Your frying pan, Mr. Corporal! What kind of soldier am I - a cripple with a hump? The nose is crooked, the head is a knot, and he himself is a box! And then I don’t have a backbone!
Cpl. You're lying! Where is your hump?
Parsley. I lost my hump Trubnaya Square!
Cpl. This won't get you off me! Here's your gun, stand in front!
Parsley. This is not a gun, but a stick!
Cpl. Fools are taught first with a stick, and then with a gun. Attention! Be equal! K no-o-o-gi!
Parsley. Oops, fleas bite!
Cpl. Listen to the command: on the shoulder!
Parsley. Oooh, it's painfully hot!
Cpl. Right shoulder forward!
Parsley(hits him with a stick). Here you go, here you go!
Cpl. What are you doing, fool? You won't get the next rank.
Parsley. I stumbled just a little, Mr. Corporal!..
Cpl. Listen to the command: all around, march! (Parsley walks behind the Corporal.) Left, right! One, two!
Parsley. Damn curly! (Hits the Corporal on the back of the head.) Three, four, five, six! Go comb your fur?
The corporal runs away.
ACT FIVE
Parsley, Musician and Mongrel.
Parsley. Ha ha ha! How well did I, the Musician, serve? Received the rank of reserve ensign!
Musician. What's better? Now you, Pyotr Ivanovich, should think about the wedding... Prepare the dowry.
Parsley. My dowry is rich: all the things are good - five caftans with new patches, three rumpled hats, one and a half arshins of linen, a horse on three legs, without a tail, in the barn there is an onion and a soldier’s button... There is a teapot without a lid with one handle, and It's been sent in for repair!
Musician. Dowry is important! Full house you will live!
A big shaggy one jumps out dog and with an angry bark rushes at Petrushka.
Parsley (smacks). Shavochka! Little mongrel!.. (The dog grabs him by the caftan.) Where are you going, catechumen? Stop, stop! You will tear the government uniform. Oh, fathers, it hurts! Shavochka, darling! Let's come live with me - I'll feed you cat meat! (The dog rushes and grabs him by the nose.) Ay-ay! Darlings, matchmaking brothers! Intercede, dear ones! Don't let a dog die! Get lost, my daring little head, with a cap and a brush!
The dog fiddles with Parsley and drags him away by the nose.
It is believed that the birthplace of modern puppet theater is India and Ancient China. Later, this type of democratic art was brought by wandering artists, possibly gypsies, to Ancient Greece, and from there spread throughout Europe. It is not known for certain when puppeteers appeared in our country, but the Russian folk theater of Petrushka enjoyed enormous popularity among people of all ages and classes for about three centuries.
Background
Researchers believe that there were 3 species in Russia:
- puppetry, in which the dolls were controlled using strings;
- the Petrushka Theater - with figurines of characters placed on the fingers of the puppeteer;
- nativity scene - a theater in which dolls were fixed motionless on rods and moved along 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, due to the complexity of making the figures, were used quite rarely. Thus, when talking about Russian pre-revolutionary puppet shows, they most often refer to Petrushki. It got its name from the name of the main character of funny performances performed right on the street.
Who is Parsley
This nickname was given to the glove puppet, which was usually dressed in a red shirt, canvas pants and a pointed cap with a tassel. It is still not entirely clear why her physiognomy was traditionally given “non-Russian” features. In particular, he has an overly large head and hands, a dark face, huge almond-shaped eyes and Most likely, Petrushka’s appearance is due to the fact that he was created in the image and likeness of the Italian Pulcinella.
As for the character’s character, he is also a fraudster for whom no laws are written.
The appearance of Parsley
In Russia, a glove puppet with strange facial features and the name Ivan Ratyutyu appeared in the 17th century. However, it received its greatest distribution and its final name only 200 years later. By the way, Petrushka himself introduced himself as Pyotr Ivanovich (sometimes Petrovich) Uksusov.
Description of the theater at an early stage
In the 17th century, performances were performed without a screen. More precisely, traditional theater Petrushki assumed the participation of only one actor, who tied a skirt to his belt. A hoop was sewn to its hem, and when lifted, the puppeteer found himself hidden from prying eyes. He could freely move his arms and imagine scenes involving two characters. At the same time, 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 mid-19th century
From the 1840s, the screen began to be used. It consisted of three frames, which were fastened with staples and covered with chintz. It was placed directly on the ground, and it hid the puppeteer. A mandatory attribute, without which it was impossible to imagine the Parsley Theater, was a barrel organ. Its sounds invited 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 with a long nose and a red cap. At the same time, the organ grinder became his partner, and together they acted out comic scenes.
Puppeteers
The Petrushka Theater, the history of which has not been fully studied, was considered purely masculine. To make the puppeteer's voice more squeaky and loud, a special squeaker whistle was used, which was inserted into the larynx. In addition, the puppeteer tried to speak very quickly and laugh disgustingly at every joke he made.
Subjects
The theater plays (Petrushka was their main, but not the only hero) were rather monotonous. Main plots: treatment and training for soldier service, a date with the bride, buying and testing a horse. The scenes followed one after another in a certain order. At the same time, the duration of the performance depended on how long the audience deigned to pay attention to this street performance.
The action took place in the following sequence:
- Petrushka decides to buy a horse from a gypsy horse dealer. He haggles with the seller for a long time. Then he gets tired of this activity, and he hits the gypsy, who runs away.
- Petrushka tries to climb onto the horse, but it throws him off and goes after the dealer, leaving the cunning one lying motionless.
- The doctor arrives. He asks Petrushka about his illness. It turns out that he has a thousand diseases. The doctor and Petrushka fight because the patient calls the doctor ignorant. The bully hits the medic hard on the head with his baton.
- The policeman appears and asks Petrushka why he killed the doctor. The rogue replies that he “doesn’t know his science well.” Then Petrushka hits the policeman with a baton and kills him. The dog comes running. Parsley turns to the public and asks for their help. Then he tries to appease the dog and promises to feed her cat meat. The dog grabs Petrusha by the nose and drags him away. At this point the performance ended and the audience dispersed.
"Petrushka's wedding"
Sometimes, usually during Maslenitsa and other folk festivals, the performance, at the request of the public, could last even longer. Then they acted out the scene “Petrushka’s Wedding”. Her plot was crude and frivolous. A bride was brought to Parsley, whom he examined as if she were a horse. After he agreed to marry, long persuasions began for the bride to “sacrifice herself” before the wedding. From this point on the performance, the spectators left, taking the children away. The remaining men listened with delight to Parsley's greasy jokes.
There was also a scene with a priest or clerk. However, due to censorship reasons, it was not included in any of the collections where the texts of the performances with Petrushka were recorded.
"Death"
Among the characters in the Parsley Theater there was one most sinister one, who defeated the main character. It was Death, who, after a verbal spat, took Petrushka with him. However, the hero was soon resurrected in another place. This circumstance became the reason that some researchers began to find a connection between Parsley and pagan deities, who endlessly died and were reborn here and there.
Puppet theaters in Moscow
Before October revolution such permanent cultural institutions did not exist, and performances were staged by single artists on the streets or in booths, or they were invited to private homes to entertain guests. The first real puppet theaters in 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: st. Sadovaya-Samotechnaya, 3. In addition, around the same time, the Moscow Puppet Theater appeared in the capital, originally created to popularize children's literature. He toured the country and introduced viewers to new works by Soviet authors, written specifically for the younger generation.
Later, other puppet theaters in Moscow appeared: “Albatross”, “Firebird”, “Fairytale”, “Chamber” and others. Here you can watch not only children's performances, but also productions specially created for adults.
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 called the Russian folk theater "Petrushka" and debuted in 1989 in the city of Fresino.
The theater puts on 30-minute performances right on the street and tries not to deviate from the traditional scenarios of farcical performances.
The emergence of the Petrushka Theater is connected with the desire of its creators to preserve the best that was in the street mass art of past centuries.
Performances are also performed indoors. In such cases, the audience is also introduced to the history of Petrushka and the Russian farce theater. In their work, the actors use props that are exact copies of the screens and puppets that their predecessors had, who entertained the public on the streets of Russian cities 150-200 years ago.
Now you know how the Russian folk puppet theater arose. Parsley still arouses interest among children today, so be sure to take them to some show in a farce style.
ProDetki editors love to visit cultural places and discover new heroes and characters. For example, we became interested in the hero Petrushka in the puppet world.
The Parsley Theater is a unique performance whose history goes back to the 17th century. At first it was a popular entertainment for ordinary people, and then it gained popularity among high society.
Doll Parsley
Parsley is a printed doll dressed in pants and a red shirt, distinctive feature This character had a pointed cap and a huge red nose.
History of the Petrushka Theater
The Petrushka Theater is one of the oldest entertainments in Rus', which has survived to this day and has not lost its relevance. . Many perceive it as a folk creation, but in reality its prototypes Russian folk theater Petrushka has in many countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Türkiye.
The first appearance of the Petrushka Theater in Rus' was recorded back in the 17th century, but it gained its main popularity only in the 19th century. Despite the fact that there were several types of puppet theater in Rus', Petrushka's performances were the most popular.
Character Parsley
It is not surprising that Petrushka is the main character of the puppet theater, which is named after him. Let's take a closer look at what it is. As you can see from the history of the creation of the theater, it came to Russian lands from other countries, therefore Russian Petrushka has collected many in his appearance distinctive features different nationalities . For example, his head and arms were incredibly large, and his eyes were almond-shaped, his skin color was dark, and his nose had a large hump. Thanks to all this, he was very similar to his Italian prototype - Pulcinella.
Parsley Although he put his main character at the head of the presentation, he did not limit himself to this. For example, Petrushka’s constant partner in the plot was a bear, with whom he acted out the main scenes .
Russian theater Petrushka and its plots
Based on stories theatrical performance There were always banal and philistine themes of that time: soldier's service, treatment, acquisition of a horse and its testing, as well as Petrushka's dating and wedding.
All scenes had their own order and were shown strictly one after another:
— The first scene was always based on Petrushka’s purchase of a horse. He bargained with a gypsy salesman who did not want to give in, then Petrushka got tired of it, for which he hit the merchant. This was the end of the first performance.
— The second scene was a demonstration of how Petrushka climbs onto a horse, but it does not want to obey him and throws off the main character, and then leaves after the gypsy.
— In the third scene, as at the beginning of the performance, Petrushka is not distinguished by a calm disposition, and, having visited the doctor, beats him because the doctor finds many ailments in the main character.
— Last scene there are also fights. When the policeman appears to find out why Petrushka killed the doctor, main character without thinking twice, he does the same with the quarterly. But justice is personified by the dog, which barks and growls at the main character, and then, not succumbing to any cajoling and begging of Petrushka, who grabbed him by the nose, drags him away from the impromptu stage.
This is where the show ends. Interestingly, the duration of the performance depends on how interesting scenes are played out, because it lasts as long as there are spectators on the street who have honored it with their attention.
Russian folk theater Petrushka is not limited to just four main scenes in its performance . When there are a lot of onlookers on the streets and the audience is ready to watch as much as they want - to watch a puppet theater, the story continues with other interesting plots. One of them is “Parsley’s Wedding”. The script for this performance was so rude and frivolous that parents did not allow their children to watch such a scene.
In all performances, Petrushka acted as a rogue, a swindler and a rude man. Nand his facewas depicteddeven not a sweet smile, as many may think, but a rude grin.
Street theater Petrushka
Traditional Petrushka - puppet theater one actor, the scene of which was always street fairs and shopping areas . The very first performances were shown without a screen, since the only actor-puppeteer simply put a special skirt on his belt with a hoop. By lifting this ring, the puppeteer disappeared from the view of the audience, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the performance. At the same time, he could calmly move and work with both hands to control two characters at once.
Already at the beginning of the 19th century, such a costume for an actor was replaced by a screen , a prototype of the one in use today. It was installed directly on the ground, hiding the puppeteer and all his props.
Only men were puppeteers, but in order to give their voices additional squeakiness, a specialized squeak was used. It was inserted directly into the larynx. This gave the puppeteer the opportunity to speak louder.
Contemporary Petrushka Theater
Thanks to many artists who make every effort to preserve the traditions of puppet theater, we have the opportunity to enjoy interesting performances today. Nowadays, of course, these are not only nomadic fair performances, but also street puppeteers.
Most often, Petrushka’s performances can be seen in children’s puppet theaters, for example, “Firebird”, “Albatross”, “Fairytale” and many others.
People's Theater Petrushka on this moment is an opportunity to introduce children and adults to history, as well as to instill in the younger generation a love and interest in literature.
Bryansk region, Palace of Culture village. White Shores, choirmaster.
Game scenario – entertainment program for children of primary school age. "Fair Theater Petrushka" April 3, 2015
Starring vocal group folk singing Crane
Target:
Study and propaganda of folk ( folklore creativity) creativity.
Tasks:
-Introduce the history and features of the fair puppet show;
-Introduce characters (dolls) and the features of their manufacture and management;
-Show options for playing songs and teach the basics of folk everyday “playing” songs and dances;
-Teach children to simply play game-dances, game-songs, round dance games, and not compete for prizes.
Game material:
“Cabinet” of dolls: Parsley, Bride, Doctor, Gypsy, Mukhtarka the Dog, Horse.
Screen;
Tambourine;
Bag.
Musical material:
Organ organ records;
"Like at the gate" ( folk song);
“The Moon Is Shining” (folk song);
“Chizhik fawn” (folk refrains).
Application:
Methodological material"The history of the folk puppet theater Petrushka."
Ved: Good day everyone. We are glad to see you here with us again. I hope you all remember how we usually behave. Sit quietly, listen carefully, and they will offer you tea not to refuse.
Across wide Rus' to our mother
The bells ring out.
In cities both big and small
People gather in booths.
Like people gathering at our gates.
All that with spoons and rattles.
How our neighbor had a fun conversation.
Geese on harp, ducks on pipes,
Tap dancers in rattles, seagulls in balalaikas.
They sing and play and amuse everyone!
What you won’t hear enough of here, what you won’t see enough of here!
Here are the toys, here are the Parsleys,
Tea from a samovar, kvass from a mug!
Hurry people, gather people,
Come on people, it's a holiday here!
“Like ours at the gate” (folk song performed by the folk association “Zhuraveyka”)
Ved: Guys, today we invite you to the Fair Booth. Yes, not just to stand there with my mouth open, but to find my friend. Well, look to the right, and now to the left. Well, how can you not see it? No? But let me tell you what it is, then you will find it right away. Listen.
He has a red cap, a bright shirt, a long and cunning nose, and a stick in his hand. Everyone loves him. In the old days, he performed both in the village and in the city in courtyards and squares. He moved from place to place, from city to city. He is cunning and cocky, and he also loves all kinds of mischief.
In a bright red jacket,
He is with a club in his hand.
Funny toy
And her name is... (Petrushka)
(Children answer – “Parsley”)
Ved: Parsley is a cheerful guy who loves to have the barrel organ play, and then he dances. A barrel organ is what it is musical instrument. That's how beautiful she is. (Points to the organ) And its sound is very melodic. Hey, musician, play us something funny, and I’ll go and call my friend Petrushka. Let him show himself to the boys and dance. (calls, moving away behind the screen) Parsley. Peter Ivanovich. Petrusha where are you?
(the musician begins to turn the handle of the organ. An old hurdy-gurdy tune sounds)
"Parsley"
A play in five scenes.
Characters
Parsley
Gypsy 
Horse 
Musician 
Praskovya Stepanovna – Parsley's Bride 
Doctor 
Dog Mukhtarka 
Scene one
Musician: (calling) Parsley. Petrusha, come out. Show yourself to the people.
Parsley: (from behind the screen) Ass. Nope.
Musician. Petrusha, come out. You see, people are waiting. Come out.
Parsley. I'm afraid.
Musician. Do not be afraid. We'll clap for you. Come on, people, don’t spare your hands, clap louder so that the fluff flies.
Parsley. Ahhh here I am. We wish you good health, gentlemen. Be healthy, happy day and holiday that is today. (bows quickly and a lot) Well, stop clapping, otherwise my face is red from embarrassment.
Musician. And what happened?
Parsley. (Addresses the Musician.) Musician! You know, brother, I want to get married.
Musician. Not a bad thing, but on whom exactly?
Parsley. Oooh! On Praskovya Stepanovna, the merchant's daughter.
Musician. Do you take a lot of dowry?
Parsley. Forty-four thousand pancakes, a barrel of water, a wardrobe from half a dress and one boot.
Musician. The dowry is not bad, but the bride is good?
Parsley. E-ee, very good!
Musician. Come on, show me.
Parsley. I'll call you now. (Calls.) Paraskovia Stepanovna! My darling, my angel, my little flower, come here! (Paraskovia is walking. At this time, Petrushka meets and presses and kisses tightly to her heart and asks.)
Parsley. (Addresses the Musician.) Musician! So, is my bride good?
Musician. She's pretty good, but a little blind.
Parsley. Not true! What an eye, what an eyebrow, a mouth, a nose, and what beads.
Musician. So she has a mustache? Why do you need a mustachioed bride?
Parsley. Yes, not mustaches, but beads. (and kisses at this time) Hey, you’re deaf. And also a musician. Better play us a dance!
Parsley and the Bride dance and sing:
Penya Folklore group “Zhuraveyka” – “The month is shining”
Then Petrushka hugs her and takes her home.
Picture two.
Parsley. Hey musician!
Musician. What's happened?
Parsley. Thank God I got married.
Musician. This is good, the young wife needs to buy a horse.
Parsley. Who?
Musician. At the gypsy's.
Parsley. And what is his name?
Musician. Gavrilo.
Parsley. Go call him.
Musician (refuses). Not a great master, you’ll call him yourself.
Parsley. Where does he live?
Musician. On the corner, in the right tavern.
Parsley (calls Gypsy). Hey, Gavrylo, smeared snout, come here!
Gypsy (walks and sings). Ay, my trickle, my trickle
Ay, I took water for tea, Romals
Ai nane chavalele.
Parsley. I heard that you have a selling horse. Do you want it expensive? And is she good?
Gypsy. It's good, it's good. Not a sopata, not a hunchback, he runs - the earth trembles, but if he falls, he lies there for three days.
Parsley. As much as you want?
Gypsy. One hundred thousand
Parsley. It is expensive.
Gypsy. How much will Pan give?
Parsley. Thousand.
Gypsy. Not enough, sir, give it.
Parsley. Musician!
Musician. What?
Parsley. How much should I give him for the horse?
Musician. Yes, five thousand.
Parsley. I'll give you ten thousand.
Gypsy. Come on, sir, make a deposit.
Parsley. Bring your horse.
Gypsy. I won’t give up the horse without a deposit. Farewell, sir.
Parsley. Wait, I'll bring the deposit now. I'll borrow from my sister.
Gypsy. And who is she?
Parsley. The girl is young. Skalochka Drakulovna Kolotushkina. Here she will kiss you...
Parsley takes out a good stick in return for the deposit and begins to give the deposit.
Parsley. Here's a ruble for you, here's two for you!
Gypsy. Ah ah ah! Where are the doors! Ah ah ah!
Parsley. A little expensive... Get a curly stick and a hump-shaped baton for your neck and back.
Gypsy. Add more, Petrushka, for the kids’ fat...
Parsley. So is this not enough for you?
Parsley (begins to beat Gypsy). Here's a thousand for you, here's two for you! (The gypsy runs away.) Wow! Such a deposit will not do any good!
Musician! Bring the horse here. Whoa, whoa! Stop, don't kick! Ooh, not a horse, but fire! Stop! You need to count her teeth, how old she is. (Looks into her mouth.) The horse is very young: there isn’t a single tooth in its mouth yet!
(Tries to get on the horse) Whoa, whoa, whoa! Turn around, little horse, like this. Musician! What a nimble horse! .
Parsley. Whoa-whoa-whoa, stop, Persian, don't kick! Here's a toy for you, here's the devil's boot for your money. (Falls from the horse.) Oh, little head, oh, my Praskovya Stepanovna is missing! Oh, oh, musician! Call the doctor!
Scene three
While riding, the horse throws and hits Petrushka and then runs away. At this time, Parsley screams.
Musician. And here comes the doctor.
Doctor. I am a physician doctor, a German pharmacist. They bring me to me on their feet, but I send them away on crutches. Why are you shouting and screaming here? Come on, get up.
Parsley. I can’t sit up on my feet. And he lost his head.
Doctor. We'll put in a new one. Get up.
Parsley. Oh oh oh, my death has come.
Doctor. Where was she before?
Parsley. In field.
Doctor. What was she doing there?
Parsley. I was digging potatoes. Oh, oh, oh, save me, oh it hurts, oh it stings.
Doctor. Where do you get your fill? Here.
Parsley. Higher!
Doctor. Here "- where exactly?
Parsley. Lower!
Doctor. Here "- where exactly?
Parsley. Higher!
Doctor. The devil will tell you: now higher, now lower, now higher, now lower! Get up and show me!
Parsley. Stand up and show?
Doctor. Yes, show me.
Parsley. But now I’ll show you and explain. (Parsley leaves and carries a stick and hits the Doctor, showing him.) First higher, then lower.
Doctor. Ah ah ah! (runs away
Parsley. A musician, a musician!
Musician. What's happened?
Parsley. So I showed him and explained it to him. And now I’ll sit down and sing a song.
At this time, Barbos runs in, Vanya stops and begins to tease him.
Parsley. Qiu-qiu! , Shavochka-kudlavochka, what a mess you are
Mukhtarka. Bow-wow! (Grabs Vanya.)
Parsley (teases again). Qiu-qiu-qiu!
Mukhtarka. Bow-wow! (Grabs him.)
Parsley. Mukhtarka grabs Petrushka by the shirt.) Stop, wait, Mukhtarka, you'll tear your shirt! Stop, Mukhtarka, it hurts! (The dog rushes at him and grabs him by the nose.) Ay, fathers, intercede! My little head will be lost, complete with cap and brush! Oh! Oh oh!
Ved: Well, guys, did you like my friend Petrushka?
(yes) Guys, did you look carefully?
Do you remember what animals Parsley met today?
You stroke it, it caresses you,
You tease and it bites.
Answer to the riddle: dog
(The student who plays the dog comes out)
I have a big mane
Ears and hooves.
I'll give him a playful ride,
Who won't be afraid?
My fur is smooth
Who am I?...
Answer to the riddle: horse
(the student who plays the horse comes out)
Ved: Come on, guys, let's play with the horse and the dog.
Tell me, how does a horse talk? No way. Right. The horse does not speak, but only neighs and snorts. Now let's imagine that each of you is an artist like this fair theater and he needs to portray a horse. Let's laugh and now snort. Fine.
Jumping Firecracker GAME
Now to make our horse gallop, let’s pat ourselves on the knees with our palms. Yes, louder, louder, and now quieter, quieter. And now if I raise my hand up, it means the horse has galloped close and I need to click louder. When I give up, the horse has galloped away. You need to click more quietly. All clear. And as soon as I clap my hands, the horse stops. Whoever remains clucking after my clap is inattentive and loses.
Ved: Guys, every character in the theater has his own voice. For example, a cat purrs, a frog croaks. What a voice the dog has. Guys, tell me whether our dog is good or evil. And how an angry dog barks. Guys, how the good little dog barks. Well, that's enough, otherwise now all the dogs will come running. Let's greet our animals with applause.
Ved: Guys, look carefully at Petrushka. What animal does he look like? But the riddle will help you.
The gentleman walks around the yard, finding fault with everything,
Double beard, side cap.
Who screams the most?
Yes, he does the least.
What kind of bird is not afraid of people?
Doesn't fly high, but sings: "Ko-ko-ko-ko"
It’s not for nothing that His name is Parsley and His voice is as clear as that of a cockerel.
Ved: Guys, do you know that Petrushka has a surname. (no) So here it is full name Pyotr Ivanovich Uksusov, and sometimes he is called Petrushka Samovarov, and when he plays pranks they call him Vanka Rototuy or Vanka Rutyutyu.
Ved: Guys, let’s remember what kind of people Petrushka met today. (Bride, Doctor, Gypsy). Let's call them here with applause. These artists love to dance and play different games. Let's play with them. I ask everyone to join the round dance.
Game-dance “Like Grandfather Makar”
Children stand in a circle and hold hands. The leader is in the center. The players walk in a circle and chant the words:
Like Uncle Makar
There were ten sons
They drank, they ate
They did this at once.
This way and that way and that way and that way!!!
So and so and so!
At last words everyone begins to repeat his gestures. The one who repeated the movements best becomes the leader.
Game-dance “A grandmother lived near a river”
The presenter invites the children to remember the words of the songs.
Once upon a time there lived an old woman near the river. Grandma wanted it
swim in the river. I bought soap. I bought a washcloth. Wow, and the song
ok, start over!
Then you are asked to remember the movements that
further replace the words in the song:
“grandmother” - depicted with hands,
like a grandmother tying a scarf under her chin,
"river" - waves,
“swim” - we depict a swimmer,
“bought” - clap your hands,
"soap" - right hand up,
"bast" - left hand up,)
“start over” - twirl with hands in front of chest
With each repetition of the song the tempo becomes faster.
Game-dance. "I have one aunt"
Aunt - let's go forward, arms to the sides
We repeat the movements after the leader. After the verse in the bridge, we mix 2 squares to two, the movements of the verse with a turn to the right and then to the left.
Pens
Legs
Shoulders
Sides
Jumping
Russian folklore
Parsley performances were especially popular at fairs and folk festivals and were a form of urban spectacular folklore.
Parsley is one of the characters in Russian folk puppet shows. Depicted in a red shirt, canvas pants and a pointed cap with a tassel; Traditionally, Parsley is a glove doll. PETRUSHKA, “the nickname of a farce doll, a Russian jester, a jokester, a wit in a red caftan and a red cap; the entire jester, puppet den is also called Petrushka” (V. Dahl).
The origin of this doll, which appeared in Russia in the second half of the 19th century, has not been reliably clarified. Although in Russia (Encyclopedia Around the World) Parsley has been known since the 17th century. Russian puppeteers used marionettes (string puppet theater) and parsleys (glove puppets). Until the 19th century, preference was given to Parsley, by the end of the century - to marionettes, as parsley makers united with organ grinders. The parsley screen consisted of three frames, fastened with staples and covered with chintz. It was placed directly on the ground and hid the puppeteer. The barrel organ gathered spectators, and behind the screen the actor began to communicate with the audience through a peep (whistle). Later, with laughter and reprise, he ran out himself, in a red cap and with a long nose. The organ grinder sometimes became Petrushka's partner: because of the squeak, speech was not always intelligible, and he repeated Petrushka's phrases and conducted a dialogue. The comedy with Petrushka was played out at fairs and booths. From some memoirs and diaries of the 1840s it follows that Petrushka had a full name - he was called Pyotr Ivanovich Uksusov. The famous Russian puppeteer Sergei Obraztsov called Petrushka Pyotr Petrovich Uksusov (the story “The Four Brothers”) or Vanka Ratatouille. There were main plots: Parsley's treatment, soldier training, the scene with the bride, buying a horse and testing it. The stories were passed from actor to actor, by word of mouth. Not a single character in the Russian theater had the popularity equal to Petrushka.
First puppet shows with the main actor- Parsley appeared in the first half XIX century. On the pages of everyday life essays and popular print books, his name has been mentioned since the 1840s.
In Russia of the last century, the comedy about Petrushka had no equal among other types of puppet theater in terms of popularity among the common population and breadth of distribution (from St. Petersburg to Sakhalin and from Arkhangelsk to northern Caucasus), in terms of topicality, wit and the deadly power of laughter. Petrushka was considered the main and perhaps the only hero of the Russian puppet theater.
Petrushka's comedy was constantly in the process of development, replenished with new characters, and became more and more relevant and socially rich.
The Petrushki Theater was created not only under the influence of Russian, Slavic, and Western European puppet traditions. He was a kind of folk theatrical culture, part of the extremely developed (spectacular folklore) in Russia. Therefore, it has a lot in common with folk drama, with the performances of farce barkers, with the verdicts of the groomsmen at the wedding, with amusing popular prints, with the jokes of the raeshniks, etc.
The special atmosphere of the city's festive square explains, for example, Petrushka's familiarity, his unbridled gaiety and indiscriminateness in the object of ridicule and shame. After all, Petrushka beats not only class enemies, but everyone in a row - from his own fiancée to the policeman, often beats him for nothing (a blackamoor, an old beggar woman, a German clown, etc.), and in the end he gets hit too: the dog mercilessly tugs at his nose. The puppeteer, like other participants in the fair, square fun, is attracted by the very opportunity to ridicule, parody, beat, and the more, louder, more unexpected, sharper, the better. Elements of social protest and satire were very successfully and naturally superimposed on this ancient basis of laughter.
Like all folklore entertainments, “Petrushka” is filled with obscenities and curses. The original meaning of these elements has been studied quite fully, and how deeply they penetrated into the folk culture of laughter and what place swearing, verbal obscenity and demeaning, cynical gestures occupied in it, is fully shown by M.M. Bakhtin.
Performances were shown several times a day in different conditions(at fairs, in front of booths, on city streets, in the suburbs). "Walking" Parsley was the most common use of the doll.
For mobile folklore theater A light screen, dolls, miniature wings and a curtain were specially made. Petrushka ran around the stage, his gestures and movements creating the appearance of a living person.
The comic effect of the episodes was achieved using techniques characteristic of the folk culture of laughter: fights, beatings, obscenities, the imaginary deafness of a partner, funny movements and gestures, mimicking, funny funerals, etc.
There are conflicting opinions about the reasons for the extraordinary popularity of the theater: topicality, satirical and social orientation, comic character, simple play that is understandable to all segments of the population, the charm of the main character, acting improvisation, freedom of choice of material, the sharp tongue of the puppet.
The Petrushki Theater is a type of folk theater that was not only watched, but also listened to, so most scenes included both movement and conversation in varying proportions. In the episodes of bargaining (the scene of buying a horse), treatment, ridicule of soldier drill, word and gesture are, as a rule, equivalent; they complement each other, combining visual and auditory perception.
Songs and dances were an integral part of most of the performances of the Petrushki Theater. The heroes of the comedy performed lyrical songs, dance songs, couplets of the ditty type, cruel romances, songs literary origin. They danced Russian, Komarinskaya, trepaka, “lady”, polka, waltz, etc. Musical exhibitions played a large role in comedy. Dances and songs, hurdy-gurdy melodies were not just the musical setting of the performance, they were designed to set the audience in a cheerful, festive mood, to create additional comic effect through a contrasting relationship between melody and action, serve as a characteristic of the characters, diversify them, in other words, together with other poetic and stage techniques, make the performance a lively and vibrant spectacle.
The structure of a theatrical performance is also determined by the relationship between spectators and actors. Public orientation existed and exists in all forms theatrical arts, in varying degrees, of course, and in varying quality.
For the Russian "Petrushka", as well as for the folk theater in general, communication with the audience was an indispensable condition and extremely important point performance.
Parsley is a folk holiday joy.
Parsley is a manifestation of popular optimism, a mockery of the poor against the powerful and rich.
The Parsley Theater remained a part of holiday entertainment for a long time. As a mass phenomenon of folk fair culture, it ceased to exist at the beginning of the 20th century.