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A close examination of more than 100 play scripts and the unpublished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 (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
Official Date:	June 2000
Dates:	Date Event June 2000 Submitted
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

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