Xiangsheng facts for kids
Crosstalk, also called xiangsheng in Chinese, is a very old and funny type of performance from China. The word xiangsheng means "looking at each other and speaking." It's like a special kind of dialogue or conversation that makes people laugh.
Crosstalk uses clever language with lots of puns, which are jokes using words that sound alike but have different meanings. It also uses allusions, which are indirect references to famous people, events, or stories. The performers often speak very quickly. The humor comes from playful teasing and joking, known as banter.
A Canadian comedian named Dashan (Mark Rowswell), who performs crosstalk, said that the closest thing in English might be the famous "Who's on First?" comedy sketch by Abbott and Costello.
How Crosstalk Works
Modern crosstalk performances use four main skills. These skills help the performers create their funny acts:
- Speaking (Chinese: shuō): This involves telling stories, jokes, and using different voices.
- Imitating (Chinese: xué): Performers copy the way people talk, sing, or even the sounds of animals.
- Teasing (Chinese: dòu): This is where the comedians playfully tease each other or the audience. It's a key part of the humor.
- Singing (Chinese: chàng): Sometimes, the performers will sing short songs or opera parts in a funny way.
A Look at Crosstalk's History
Crosstalk became very popular a long time ago during the Qing dynasty, which was the last imperial dynasty of China. It has continued to be a beloved form of entertainment.
Today, crosstalk is still a big part of Chinese culture. You can often see it on CCTV's annual CCTV New Year's Gala. This is a huge TV show that many people watch to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
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