Vaudeville: The Weird and Wonderful Dreamscape of Dance and Song
Vaudeville is dead. But, not really.
Think of late-night sketch comedy shows, especially Saturday Night Live. Think of competition shows that feature daring and amazing stunts. Think of the dancing-girl shows that took hold in the Old West and never left America. Think of buskers on the streets of New Orleans. Think of mimes of the streets of New York.
Vaudeville, originally a word for a satirical song, is both more ancient and more contemporary than we give it credit for. A resurgence in stunt work, the exhibition of “unusual humans” — this time with a more ethical approach — and burlesque all speak to a fascination with the weird and wonderful that never left, and in a world of sociopolitical turmoil and deep-seated changes, are ever more relevant.
Vaudeville’s origins are deeply tied to circus and sideshow, especially the traveling aspect and the use of acrobatics and what’s now called flow arts. Overall, the shape of vaudeville was so broad that…
