The Victorian ClownThe Victorian Clown is a micro-history of mid-Victorian comedy, spun out of the life and work of two professional clowns. Their previously unpublished manuscripts - James Frowde's account of his young life with the famous Henglers' circus in the 1850s and Thomas Lawrence's 1871 gag book - offer unique, unmediated access to the grass roots of popular entertainment. Through them this book explores the role of the circus clown at the height of equestrian entertainment in Britain, when the comic managed audience attention for the riders and acrobats, parodying their skills in his own tumbling and contortionism, and also offered a running commentary on the times through his own 'wheezes' - stand-up comedy sets. Plays in the ring connect the circus to the stage, and both these men were also comic singers, giving a sharp insight into popular music just as it was being transformed by the new institution of music hall. |
Was andere dazu sagen - Rezension schreiben
Es wurden keine Rezensionen gefunden.
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
alive appear arms audience begins body bottles British called cards child circus claim clown comic example eyes face feel fellow fool gagbook girl give gold hall hand head heart hold horse interesting joke keep kind ladies Lawrence Lawrence’s legs live look married material means mind mutton never nice night once performance perhaps physical piece play pocket Pole policemen poor popular potatoes presumably published reference ring ringmaster rope round seems shaves shilling soldiers sometimes song stands street suggestive sweet tell There’s thing thought traditional turned verse Victorian walk watch weather wheeze wife wish woman women young