Chinese-way Humor: Monodrama
By admin on 2014-12-19

Monodrama(Dujiaoxi), also calledHuaji(buffoonery), is a form of Quyi arts that is popular in East China's Shanghai, Jiangsu and ZhejiangDujiaoxidates back to around 1920s. The art used to be mostly performed by one person, its art form was much influenced byShuochang(storytelling that combines singing and reciting) in the three places and at the same time it assimilated some expression ways ofXiangsheng(comic dialogue). As a result,Dujiaoxiformed its unique performing style that combinesShuochangandHuaji, was quickly well received by the masses and became an independent art genre.

Two actors performing Monodrama

Monadrama is performed in Zhejiang and Jiangsu dialects and most of its items were gastriloquy and imitation of various singing in the initial period. Later the performing techniques include speaking, imitation, doing and singing. Contents of speaking, imitation and singing have many similarities to those ofXiangshengperformance in north China, while doing means the performer plays a role of a dramatis persona and acts out plots and dialogues in the story. The performance is very exaggerated and produces strong comic effects. Doing is one of the most important performing techniques inDujiaoxi.
Nowadays, mostDujiaoxipieces are performed by two persons while some by just one person and the rest by three persons. After the founding of the People's Republic of China,Dujiaoxiactors launched a lot of art reforms and practice, renovated a batch of outstanding traditional items and published a book entitledSelected Works of Dujiaoxiin 1963. In recent years, some artists created many new works that reflect the real life.