Kyogen

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A form of Japanese comic theater performed as interludes between more serious Noh plays, featuring improvised dialogue and physical humor to entertain audiences
2. A form of traditional Japanese comedic theater that serves as humorous interludes during Noh performances, characterized by improvised dialogue and slapstick physical comedy
3. Japanese comic theatrical tradition featuring actors performing farcical sketches with improvisation and exaggerated movement between serious dramatic Noh productions

Etymology: Kyogen is the name of a Japanese comic theater form, and its name is itself a little joke. The two characters combine to mean "crazed speech" or "wild words," a label that suits the genre's stage antics, though the name does not mean the performances were madness. The term was borrowed into Japanese from Chinese, where 狂 meant "crazy, mad" and 言 meant "speech," so the words sit together as a compound in both languages. Kyogen developed alongside the more solemn Noh drama, and the two were often performed together on the same program, with kyogen providing a comic counterpoint between serious pieces. Its characters are typically servants, commoners, and foolish masters, and the plots turn on everyday mishaps rather than tragic heroes.

Synonyms: comedic play, farce