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 17
th
C
It 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 in Francesco Berni's Opere burlesche of the early
16th century, works that had circulated widely in manuscript before they were
printed. For a time burlesque verses were known as poesie bernesca in 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 Online ed. L.
Macy (Accessed December 04, 2008),

During the 17
th
and 18
th
C, 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 effect Kennedy, 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 Don
Giovanni, 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 National
Biography, 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.


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.