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The life and times of a legend of the nineteenth-century musical theatre.
Lydia Thompson is one of the legends of the musical theatre, but today—150 years after her first appearance on any stage and nearly a century after her death—it has become difficult to separate the facts of her life and career from the mass of fan fictions. Outlandish tales of Lydia's touring burlesque company, the British Blondes, and such lurid episodes as her horsewhipping of a Chicago editor, a romance with a Russian grand duke, and a lesbian attacker have left her with a reputation as a bawdy burlesquer, but Kurt Gänzl argues she was nothing of the kind. Through this biography, readers will learn the whole, untold story of this fascinating, multidimensional musical-theatre star. Lydia was one of the most technically skilled and effective dancers of her generation, a dazzling comedienne who played during her career opposite some of the great comic actors—classic and low—of her day. She also possessed a pretty soprano voice and had a deliciously winning way with a popular song. In this second edition, the author has added new information about Lydia’s life and career based on newly discovered manuscripts, archival records, newspaper notices, and his relentless research into the life and times of the nineteenth-century theatre. An entirely new section highlights the lives and careers of the leading "British Blondes," the comely costars of Lydia's touring companies, many of whom enjoyed long careers in the late Victorian theatre. Richly illustrated with period photographs—many never before reprinted—this book restores Lydia and her crew to their rightful place in theatrical history.
"Queen of Burlesque is just as captivating a read as all Kurt's previous books, and utterly fascinating. One of the reasons for this is his prose style which is very informal, informative, and relaxing to read, yet taking you effortlessly on and on, almost hypnotically, but with a style and wit that no other author that I know possesses. He has the ability to interest the reader in something which they had previously perhaps shown little or no interest, and then proceed to entertain, inform and educate! This is a true art. To complement the captivating text, the volume is copiously illustrated. The book is important in filling in gaps of our knowledge of Victorian theatre, both in the UK as well as the USA, and Gänzl's admiration of Laura Thompson and her 'British Blondes' shines out of every page. His charming, cheeky, writing, as well as his enthusiasm for what he is writing about, is evident throughout. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of theatre and performance, as well as being a hugely enjoyable read." — John Groves, theatre critic
From the Reviews of the First Edition
"The strength of this book is its detailed performance history, a history that makes clear that Thompson was no minor actress either before she crossed the Atlantic or after her American success. Thompson’s story... might certainly compel the undergraduate student and theatre aficionado." — Elizabeth Reitz Mullenix, Theatre Journal
"An atmosphere of empathy and admiration penetrates Gänzl's depiction of this actress's career, from her boomtown days in a touring burlesque company ("British Blondes") to her last performance." — American Theater
"Gänzl, who writes in a charming and cheeky tone, rediscovers not only the tumultuous career and love life of this sex symbol of the Victorian age but also the lost world in which she operated–all the archaic theatrical conventions, rambunctious audiences, and behind-the-scenes chicanery.... The author's personable stylecoupled with a sincere enthusiasm for his subjectis infectious." — Theatermania
Kurt Gänzl is a renowned authority on the musical theatre. He is the author of two editions of the award-winning Encyclopedia of the Musical Theater as well as many other books, including, with Andrew Lamb, A Life on the Ocean Wave: The Story of Henry Russell, second revised edition; Gilbert and Sullivan: The Players and the Plays; and, with Jaime Findlay, The Musical, second edition, all published by SUNY Press.