Variety
These terms are closely linked, and are in effect the American and French equivalents of the British Music Hall.
Vaudeville
A term of French origin, applied to plays of light or satiric nature, interspersed with songs. In the fifteenth century it referred to French satirical songs added to comedies; later a form of light or comic opera. In the USA it became a variety show consisting of a number of contracted acts, or “turns”, including songs, dances, acrobatic displays. In the USA the term has become synonymous to the British term "music hall", and formally existed in America between 1881 when Tony Pastor first put on a new kind of variety show in New York, to 1932 when the last vaudeville theatre (the Palace Theatre on Broadway) closed. It succeeded the older concept of variety, though thought to be a little more “genteel”, and - like variety - consisted of a collection of anything up to fifteen robust farcical, comic, musical, animal, and other acts. (See Phyllis Hartnoll, 19**)
In South Africa this form arrived largely throught the music hall tradition introduced by artists and impressarios from England and the dominons, though a number of American vaudeville stars visited the country in the early years of the 20th century. The South African tradition of variety is discussed under African Variety above and Vaudeville in South Africa below.
Vaudeville in South Africa
A rich tradition, it exists even today, though in vastly smaller numbers than in its heyday (Hartnoll, 19**). In the late 20th century for example something called the "New Music Hall" or "New Vaudeville" arose in the USA and elsewhere.
In general Music Hall refers to a stage show consisting of a number of contracted acts, or “turns”, including songs, dances, acrobatic displays, comic turns, male/female impersonators, etc. Became extremely popular toward the second half of the 19th century, also in South Africa. Numerous music hall artistes were brought from England to perform in the colonies.
All these terms , music hall, variety and vaudeville, are found in the history of South African performance.
See also Cabaret
A variety show featuring African performers organised and presented by Alf Herbert in 19**. (Coplan, 1985: 170-1)
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