Operetta vs. Vaudeville — What's the Difference?

Operetta, a genre of light opera, combines music, dialogue, and dance to tell a story, usually characterized by its light-hearted, often romantic plots. It's a theatrical performance where the musical and narrative elements are tightly interwoven. On the other hand, vaudeville is a type of entertainment that was popular especially in the US from the late 19th to the early 20th century, consisting of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill, including musicians, comedians, and magicians, focusing on variety rather than a continuous storyline.

The musical aspect of operettas is crucial, with songs and orchestral compositions driving the narrative forward and developing characters, while dialogue bridges the musical segments. Vaudeville shows, however, relied on the diversity of acts to entertain, with music being just one of many types of performances, and without the intention of telling a single, coherent story.

Operetta audiences are often drawn to the blend of accessible, melodious music and engaging stories that provide an escape into whimsy and romance. In contrast, vaudeville appealed to a broad spectrum of society by offering a wide range of entertainment options, ensuring that there was something for everyone, regardless of individual tastes.

The production of an operetta involves composers, lyricists, and librettists working together to create a cohesive work where the music and story are interdependent. Vaudeville shows, however, were assembled by booking various acts that could range from acrobatics to comedy sketches, with performers often responsible for their own material and segments.

While operetta can be seen as a precursor to modern musical theatre, with its combination of story and song, vaudeville contributed to the development of variety entertainment, including television variety shows. Both forms have left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, though in significantly different ways.