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Burlesque origins

Originated from English burlesque which involved a one-act parody where the

dialogue rhymed in couplets and conveyed humor through a sequence of puns

The term has been used in English literacy since the 17thCIt wasnt until it hit the USA that it became a variety show which involved the

ever so famous strip-tease which we now all associate with neo-burlesque which

were popular from the 1860-1940s.

The word first appears in a title inFrancesco Berni's Opere burlescheof the early

16th century, works that had circulated widely in manuscript before they were

printed. For a time burlesque verses were known aspoesie bernescain his

honour. 'Burlesque' as a literary term became widespread in 17th century Italy

and France, and subsequently England, where it referred to a grotesque

imitation of the dignified or pathetic.Fredric Woodbridge Wilson: "Burlesque", Grove Music Onlineed. L.

Macy (Accessed December 04, 2008),

During the 17thand 18thC, burlesque was divided into two categories, High B

which was burlesque imitation literacy on comically inappropriate subjects,

where as the Low B, was irreverent and mocking to a serious subject, modern

burlesque still does ring true to the literary origins as a lot of it is still performed

in a revue and sketch style performance

The term burlesque was even present in Classical music, it was a term used to

describe musical pieces that were musically from comedy to serious, juxtaposed

in order to achieve a grotesque effectKennedy, Michael(2006), The Oxford Dictionary of Music, p. 134

Early Victorian Burlesque, were the theatre form really had it roots began as

entertainment that parodied very well known operas, classical theatre or ballets,

mocking their style and musical conventions

Lucia Elizabeth Vestris, a famous English Opera singer, started to produce

burlesques in the Olympic Theatre in Westminster, London after her success in

the various different operas she had already started in. Knowing much about the

work, it was the perfect opportunity for her to have a stab at making a parody of

the work. One of her more famous first attempts was in the lead male role of DonGiovanni, where she showed off her legs and beauty, sparking a new wave of

success for herself. Jacky Bratton, Vestris , Lucia Elizabeth (17971856)inOxford Dictionary of NationalBiography, Oxford University Press, 2004

She began to lease the Olympic theatre and start performing a series of

burlesques there, for which she made the house famous.

The English style of burlesque took well to New York audiences. Many more

performances, also mocking the current music of the time were performances

with titles like Wunsuponatyme and The King of Neverminditsnamia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Bernihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Bernihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Bernihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kennedy_(music_critic)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kennedy_(music_critic)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kennedy_(music_critic)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kennedy_(music_critic)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Berni

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In the late 1860s, Lydia Thompson's British burlesque troupe became New

York's biggest theatrical sensation. Their first hit was Ixion (1868), a

mythological spoof that had women in revealing tights playing men's roles. In the

Victorian age, when proper women went to great lengths to hide their physical

form beneath bustles, hoops and frills, the idea of young ladies appearing

onstage in tights was a powerful challenge.