Plural of farce; multiple comedic theatrical performances involving exaggerated situations and absurd humor, or multiple dishes prepared with forcemeat stuffing.
From Old French 'farce,' meaning something stuffed in or an interlude. The theatrical meaning developed from comic interludes 'stuffed into' serious mystery plays during medieval times.
Medieval mystery plays were so long and serious that audiences would zone out, so churches actually authorized 'farces'—comedic interruptions—to keep people awake and engaged, making priests the first broadcast TV executives!
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