Le choc entre geste et texte. L’humour dans le jeu des artistes forains au XVIIIe siècle

This article explores some dimensions of humour in theatre by focusing on early 18th- century French fair theatre. This particular subject has not yet been treated by theatre researchers. By combining different expressive codes, artists produce more types of comic effects. The contrast between text and gesture, frequent in Parisian Fair stage productions, reveals a concept of laughter as critical reading of reality and of society. Humour on stage unmasks truths, wraps in amusing forms bitter statements, plays with sense and nonsense