Bouffon (English originally from French: "farceur", "comique", "Donovan", "jester") is a modern French theater term to describe a specific style of performance work that has a main focus in the art of mockery. It was re-coined in the early 1960s by Jacques Lecoq at his L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Later, Philippe Gaulier's bouffon pedagogy and teaching at Philippe Gaulier in France was highly influential.
Etymology and early history
The word bouffon comes from a
Latin verb: , to puff (i.e., to fill the cheeks with air); the word "Buffo" was used in the Theatre of ancient Rome by those who appeared on the stage with their cheeks blown up; when they received blows they would make a great noise, causing the audience to laugh.
[p.780 Encyclopædia Britannica; or A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, Volume 4 Archibald Constable and Company, 1823] The usage of the word bouffon comes from French and has entered English theatrical language through the work of
Jacques Lecoq and his pedagogic inquiry into performance approaches of
comedy, leading him to create dynamic classroom exercises that explored elements of
burlesque, commedia dell'arte,
farce,
gallows humor,
parody,
satire,
slapstick, etc. that collectively influenced the development of modern bouffon performance work.
In popular culture
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen was inspired by Bouffon comedy while training under
Philippe Gaulier at
Philippe Gaulier in France.
[ "For Actor-Activist Sacha Baron Cohen, Being Called A 'Bouffon' Is A Good Thing". NPR. Retrieved 24 March 2021]
In RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 8, drag queen contestant Jimbo performed as a bouffon clown character.
See also
