Moore, James Ross (2000) An intimate understanding : the rise of British musical revue 1890-1920. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

A close examination of more than 100 play scripts and the unpublished writings of Revue impresario Andre' Charlot (1882-1956) provides the original bases for this thesis. Although it is usually assumed that British musical Revue's origins must be French, a close look at its genealogy shows that the elements of Revue existed in British musical theatre before 1890. These included Burlesque, Burletta, Musical Comedy, Variety, Concert Party and Ballet. The rise of the up-to-date thing called Revue was partly the product of general social change during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Of particular importance to the development of Intimate Revue--the notably British contribution to the genre--was the physical development from 1890 of London's West End, particularly the building of many small and medium-sized theatres. A number of "proto-revues" and short "revues" included in Variety bills preceded the arrival of "real" Revue in 1912. In that year, Revue escaped Variety via the latest of many changes in jurisdiction which finally allowed its presentation in "theatres". Revue might not have developed beyond the Spectacular type except for the 1914-1918 war and its austerities. Charles B. Cochran's serendipitous Odds and Ends (1914-1915) is properly the first Intimate Revue, though the genre was subsequently given its definitive shape by Charlot. The development of its distinctive theatrical form is characterised in the development of Revue specialists, the most important of which are shown to be the literary-minded authors of mini-dramas: "sketches." All the elements of the developed form meet in the Charlot revue Buzz Buzz (1918-1920). It is argued that Intimate Revue, while gradually losing its "musical" aspect, held to this model for more than three decades; it is also argued that Intimate Revue's example altered the course of Revue in the United States.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	M Music and Books on Music > ML Literature of music
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Charlot, André, 1882-1956 -- Criticism and interpretation, Revues -- Great Britain -- History and criticism
Date:	June 2000
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Theatre Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Barker, Clive, 1931-
Extent:	iii, 215, [18] leaves
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/4012

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