A monopolylogue is a form of entertainment in which one actor plays many characters. Pioneered by English actor

Charles Mathews Charles Mathews (28 June 1776, London – 28 June 1835, Devonport) was an English theatre manager and comic actor, well known during his time for his gift of impersonation and skill at table entertainment. His play ''At Home'', in which he pl ...

and Albert Smith and first used in 1824, later used in Shakespearen performances by the performer Henry Kemble from 1846 to 1859. Matthews referred to the genre meaning where he would play "half a dozen characters", and he would switch between characters through quickly changing costumes,

ventriloquism Ventriloquism or ventriloquy is an act of stagecraft in which a person (a ventriloquist) speaks in such a way that it seems like their voice is coming from a different location, usually through a puppet known as a "dummy". The act of ventrilo ...

, and "sharp differentiation of character". The genre is believed to had influence on the writings of

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

. The term and genre has been revived in the late 20th and early 21st century.

References

{{Reflist Theatrical genres