Why is it called melodrama?

Answer 1

The history of the word is both Greek and French. It basically means musical drama, but it has come to mean something exaggerated and hilarious with a happy ending... so it is really often a comedy rather than a drama, despite the dramatic elements. It's called that so that people can distinguish that sort of play from a regular sort of play. A melodrama embraces overacting and audience reaction, while normal plays do not.