"BALKAN COMEDY" BY BORYU ZEVZEKA - ASPECTS OF THE COMIC

Abstract

The article presents a little-known Bulgarian literary work, the play "Balkan Comedy" by Boris Rumenov (Boryu Zevzeka). It was written during the Balkan Wars (1912-1918) and presents the relations between the Balkan states at that time in an allegorical way. The play is the most popular work of Boris Rumenov, who, before and after the wars, was the editor-in-chief of one of the most successful humorous newspapers in Bulgaria called "Drum". He and Stoyan Shakle, one of Rumenov’s closest friends, who wrote for the newspaper, founded a touring theater. They performed all over the country for years and the most popular play was "Balkan Comedy". During the First World War, the play was performed on all fronts of the Bulgarian army, usually by amateur actors, and it generated incredible enthusiasm and patriotic inspiration, thus enjoying a huge success. "Balkan Comedy" was an essential part of the theatrical performances, which also included songs, sketches, recitations and other popular forms of entertainment. As it reflected the actual historical events, the play was presented in its first three acts until 1918, and after the end of the war, the author added a fourth act, which, however, had a different emphasis from the end of the third one.