"The scenario of sound film" by I. Ilf and E. Petrov: vaudeville poetic functions

The article analyses «The Sound Film Scenario» written by I.Ilf and E.Petrov during their residency in Paris. Functions of vaudeville poetics in the text are defined. The analysis of the scenario shows that the plot is of a vaudevillian type (the action is based on multiply repeated confusion, deception and accidents that build up an amusing intrigue) as well as characters. Ilf and Petrov mock at human vices and mildly criticizes bourgeois democracy, its façade as well as economic recession and unemployment inherent in capitalistic system. Thus, vaudevillian devices perform entertaining and incriminating function on the level of action and characters development.