Acts found in Variety Shows
Circus acts:
Trick riding
Founded by Philip Astley, trick riding was one of many circus acts. This involved performing various stunts on a horse, which was most likely very popular, dating back to 1789, because horses were the common transport used in this time. In result, people could relate to the difficulty of taming a horse, let alone.When it came to the individual star performers, most had signature moves/stunts they would frequently display in their presentation. Florence Stephenson often jumped through paper hoops.
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| Image source : http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/d/development-of-circus-acts/ |
This footage of a trick riding competition in Melbourne, 2011 is similar to what would have been seen back in the 19th century
Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kwER4fcxz8
However, it wasn't just about the stunts involved in the act, but what they wore too, in which case female equestrians had the hardest work for this. Performers had to wear tight uncomfortable corsets which held their body in an upright position, causing difficulty through movement. A variety of other clothing/headwear also added to the pressure to maintain a flawless performance, whilst keeping their graciousness.
High wire (Tightrope)
High wire is one of 3 forms of the act 'Tight rope walking', which was common in the 17th and 18th century. But high wire is performed at much greater heights, usually over 20 feet high. Performers would hold a long metal pole up to 12 metres long to help maintain their balance. Charles Blondin was the most famous High Wire walker, walking over a gorge in Niagra Falls repeatedly up to a staggering 17 times. He even successfully carried his trustful wife, Charlotte on his back as he walked along a rope provided in a ballroom, and his 5 year old daughter too.
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| Image source : http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/d/development-of-circus-acts/ |
High wire clearly shows that the act requires an extremely high level of concentration and technique, as well as a calm state in order to cross such dangerous heights.
Image source :
Even today, there are always stunt/circus artists that compete to acheive/beat records, of the greatest heights, also known as Sky Walking. This video documents how a tightrope walker named 'Nik Wallenda' crosses over a gorge in the Grand Canyon in 2012, at a chilling 1500-foot height. He explains how he dedicates his attainment to his late father Karl Wallenda, who was also a high wire walker, but died from a fall from wire walking. Karl performed around the 1970s, and was known for often not using a safety net.
Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_jFK9Zf5k
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Music Hall Act
Music Hall Act
Male and Female Impersonators
This act was in the form of someone imitating the opposite gender, through their voice(sometimes), clothing and personality. They would usually perform songs whilst entertaining the audience with their transformed selves, having multiple characters for different performances. Male impersonation was very well-known throughout the 19th century in both theatre and opera, so much so, that the public would begin to question whether they were in fact biologically that gender. Vesta Tilley was one of the top male impersonators and also became subject to the debate upon her actual sex.
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| Image source : http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/music-hall-character-acts/ |
Another popular impersonator was Hetty King, who believed she portrayed her characters representing 'individuals' rather than just a type. Both impersonators used characters such as sailors and soldier, but King also impersonated working class males. This video shows Hetty King performing her song 'Bye Bye Bachelor Days' live in a Music Hall in the 1980s. Her movement, gestured and body language portray a comical sense to her act.
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