 Even though scholars tend to limit the use of the term "comédie-ballet" to the form described above, in the 18th century some authors also applied it to other kinds of stage work, particularly a type of comic opera, usually in three or four acts, without spoken dialogue.This differed from "opéra-ballet" (another genre mixing opera and dance) in that it contained a continuous plot (rather than a different plot for each act) as well as frequently having comic or satirical elements.It was essentially the same as the "comédie lyrique".