The Probert Encyclopaedia of General Information

VAUDEVILLE

In drama, vaudeville is a light and amusing play in which dialogue is intermingled with songs, and almost identical with musical comedy. The term originated in the 15th century with Olivier Basselin of the valleys of the Vire, in Normandy, the author of a number of drinking and love songs, which he circulated under the title Lais des Vaux de Vire, of which Vaudeville is a corruption.
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