Between the end
of the Civil War and the turn of the century, the rise in leisure activities in
large cities resulted in the development of department stores, amusement parks,
and various types of theater. Minstrelsy, vaudeville, extravaganzas, operettas,
and revues are several types of theater that were popular during this era. But
what are they? Let’s quickly define these types of theater that eventually
contributed to what we know as musical theater today. Throughout the month, we
will walk through a brief history of the development of musical theater,
looking at several hits whose music will live on for generations including Oklahoma!, Hair, and Rent. I’d like
to thank my friend and local music scholar Alexandre Badue for his assistance
with my research on musical theater!
Minstrelsy: An
early form of variety show in which white northern actors portrayed southern
plantation life using burnt cork to paint their faces black. The Virginia
Minstrels led by Dan Emmett, who wrote the famous tune “Dixie,” is one example
of a minstrel group. Variety shows had no plots or stories and no restraints
when it came to being politically correct.
Vaudeville: A
type of show in which a variety of talents are displayed including singers,
dancers, minstrels, gymnasts, and comedians. Vaudeville was often performed in
concert saloons and associated with crime. Over time, it became more refined
and acceptable.
Extravaganza: A
type of show that focused on the visual spectacle including music and dance.
Operetta: An
imported show from Europe and translated into English if necessary.
Revue: Light
entertainment dealing with satirical themes and involving short skits, songs,
and dances.
During this early
era of American musical theater, teams of comic performers became known for
their theatrical shows. Edward Harrigan and Tony Hart present one example who
gave a comic voice to New York’s immigrant and working class of the Gilded Age.
Harrigan was a dry, comic baritone while Hart was the silly falsetto who
frequently impersonated females. The team was known to add narrative to the
variety stage and eventually, their success resulted in the establishment of
their own company with their own acts.
Joe Weber and Lew
Fields were another vaudeville team during this time who, like Harrigan and
Hart, presented narrative alongside variety. They often referred to their show
as a burlesque—a comic show where the humor is derived from an existing model.
An example of this would be setting a popular tune to a new, silly text. Weber
and Fields were also known to incorporate things we now associate with musical
theater into their shows including costumes, stage sets, special effects, etc.
Join me next time
as we look at an early theatrical performance from 1867!
