Ratings for Burlesque a Brief History.....

Burlesque a Brief History.....

Added by S Francis Berman 28 Nov 2006 (address: www.w29thbijou.com/Burlesqu... )

Burlesque is a direct descendant of The Masque (where principal characters would carry a 'burle' (a stick with a padded end) with which they would slap the other players for comic effect (the origin of 'slapstick' comedy). Masques would also contain 'zani' - acrobats and tumblers giving the term 'zany' for frenetic burlesque acts. More...