Extravaganza refers to a literary or musical work (often
musical theatre) characterized by freedom of style and structure and usually containing elements of
burlesque,
pantomime,
music hall and
parody. It sometimes also has elements of cabaret,
circus,
revue, variety,
vaudeville and mime. Extravaganza may more broadly refer to an elaborate, spectacular, and expensive theatrical production.
The term was widely used to describe to a type of 19th century British drama made popular by James Planché. Planche defined it as "the whimsical treatment of a poetical subject.
The term is derived from the Italian word stravaganza, meaning extravagance.
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