Xiangsheng
Type of Chinese comedy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Xiangsheng (traditional Chinese: 相聲; simplified Chinese: 相声; pinyin: Xiàngsheng; lit. 'face and voice'), also known as crosstalk or comic dialog,[2] is a traditional performing art in Chinese comedy, and one of the most popular elements in Chinese culture. It is typically performed as a dialog between two performers, or rarely as a monolog by a solo performer (similar to most forms of stand-up comedy in Western culture), or even less frequently, as a group act by multiple performers. The Xiangsheng language, rich in puns and allusions, is delivered in a rapid, bantering style, typically in the Tianjin dialect (or in Mandarin Chinese with a strong northern accent). The acts would sometimes include singing, Chinese rapping, and musical instruments.
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Crosstalk | |
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Medium | Sound |
Types | a traditional performing art in Chinese comedy |
Originating culture | Chinese culture |
Originating era | late Qing Dynasty |
Xiangsheng | |||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 相聲 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 相声 | ||||||
Literal meaning | face and voice[1] | ||||||
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Xiangsheng has connections with the vaudeville Double act that developed in approximately the same era. Some Westerners have studied the art of Xiangsheng.[3][4] One Canadian student of Xiangsheng, Mark Rowswell, who uses the stage name of Dashan, has said that the closest English equivalent is "Who's on First?", a sketch by Abbott and Costello.[5] However, many acts in vaudeville and radio double acts, as well as the screen comedy dialog that evolved from them, are similar to Xiangsheng in their formula.