Editing Soubrette (section)

==Theatre==
[[File:Alice Kingsbury the Elfin Star - Photographed by J.W. Winder & Co., National Art Palace, 142 Fourth Street, bet. Race and Elm, Cincinnati. LCCN2013648311.jpg|thumb|left|The soubrette [[Alice Kingsbury Cooley|Alice Kingsbury]], by J.W. Winder & Co.]]
In theatre, a soubrette is a comedy character who is vain and girlish, mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish and gossipy—often a chambermaid or confidante of the [[ingénue]]. She often displays a flirtatious or even sexually aggressive nature. The soubrette appeared in [[commedia dell'arte]] scenarios, often in the role of [[Columbina]], where the actress would provide the details of her behaviour and dialogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/servetta.html|title=Servetta - Soubrette - Colombina - Corallina - Franceschina - Mirandolina - Commedia dell'Arte|website=www.delpiano.com}}</ref> From there, she moved to the works of [[Molière]], which were influenced by the Commedia; the role of Dorine in ''[[Tartuffe]]'' (1664) fits the description. A famous example, though a hundred years later, is Suzanne in [[Beaumarchais]]' ''[[Le Mariage de Figaro]]'' (1784).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/soubrette|title=Soubrette - theatrical character|website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref>