An operetta is a short, light musical stage work, usually comic or romantic, with a mix of sung numbers and spoken dialogue. It is not a poetry form, but it can be relevant to poetry because its lyrics and libretto often use rhyme, meter, and other verse techniques.
Example
The mayor's grand speech turns to song,
then lovers whisper all night long;
a comic chorus, bright and spry,
lets wit and melody reply.
Related Definitions
[n] a short amusing opera
Related Terms
ballad opera, ballet, ballet divertissement, Broadway musical, chorus show, comedy ballet, comic opera, dance drama, grand opera, light opera, lyric drama, minstrel, minstrel show, music drama, musical, musical comedy, musical stage, musical theater, oper