Comedy Opera

Comedy opera is an emerging genre of Han Chinese traditional opera. During the mid-stage of the Anti-Japanese War, it gradually formed on the basis of the monodrama by incorporating influences from both domestic and foreign comedies as well as local operas. It became popular in many areas of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, and was well-received by audiences. The main theme of its creations is to reflect urban life, using exposure, satire, and humor as the primary artistic means.

In the spring of 1942, Jiang Xiaoxiao and Bao Lele, together with some monodrama artists and civil opera actors, consciously expanded the transition of monodrama to the opera form and established the first comedy opera troupe, the "Xiaoxiao Troupe." They performed the first comedy opera, "Absurdity," which catered to the audience's taste and gained recognition and rapid development within the artistic community, thus leading to the growth of comedy opera troupes. In addition to impromptu operas, the troupe gradually attracted professional playwrights and implemented a directorial system.

The music of comedy opera follows the "Nine Melodies and Eighteen Tones" of monodrama. Actors not only need to master various opera singing styles, commonly used Han Chinese folk tunes, and popular songs but also learn various types of singing. Comedy opera performances are based on monodrama, crosstalk and other forms of tune art, absorbing the performance techniques of civil opera. The physical movements and actions are exaggerated, sometimes to the point of absurdity. Comedy opera actors must also have eloquence, quick reactions, and the ability to speak various dialects. Sometimes, they even speak foreign languages such as English and Japanese according to the needs of the play.

In 1954, Hangzhou Lianyi Comedy Drama Troupe was established and later renamed Hangzhou Comedy Opera Troupe in 1955. In 1997, it merged with Hangzhou Quyi Troupe to form the Hangzhou Comedy Art Theater, which is one of the most important performing troupes for comedy opera.

In 2012, comedy opera was included in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Zhejiang Province.