Lydia Thompson: Queen of Burlesque (Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre) [Hardcover]

Kurt Ganzl (Author)

Book Description

Series: Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre | Publication Date: April 3, 2002

This inaugural volume in the new Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre series sets Lydia Thompson, queen of burlesque, under the spotlight. The book and the series will attempt to restore to their place in theatre history performers and writers who were famous in their era, yet who have since faded inexplicably from popular memory. We intend to resurrect their lives and legacies for the theatre enthusiast. 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 her lesbian attacker have left her with a reputation as a bawdy burlesquer, but Kurt Ganzl, who is also the series editor and one of the world's premier experts on musical theatre, argues that she was nothing of the kind. Sweet, gentle and loving, she was an electrifying actress, a peerless dancer, an accomplished comedienne and an enchanting singer, with a star quality that to this day has been rivaled only by a few performers. Through this biography, the reader will learn the whole and hitherto untold story of this multi-dimensional musical-theatre star.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a thorough biography, chronicling the life of an important though somewhat neglected figure and rich in data. It introduces valuable information about Thompson as well as a wealth of primary source material.
–Elizabeth Reitz Mullenix, Theatre Journal

The strength of this book is its detailed performance history, a history that makes clear that Thompson--far less blonde then [sic] she appears in legend--was no minor actress either before she crossed the Atlantic or after her American success.
–Elizabeth Reitz Mullenix, Theatre Journal

Thompson's story is told most completely here and might certainly compel the undergraduate student and theatre aficionado.
–Elizabeth Reitz Mullenix, Theatre Journal

An atmosphere of empathy and admiration penetrates Ganzl's depiction of this actress's career, from her boomtown days in a touring burlesque company (British Blondes) to her last performance as Duchess of Albuquerque in Ruy Blas's A Queen's Romance.
–American Theater, July/August

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (April 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415937663
• ISBN-13: 978-0415937665
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,961,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expensive, but worth it, March 14, 2003

By 

Aunt Charlotte (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lydia Thompson: Queen of Burlesque (Forgotten Stars of the Musical Theatre) (Hardcover)

Despite the ludicrous price the publisher is charging for this book, I would recommend everyone sell some plasma and stagger out to buy it. One of the best show-biz bios I have ever read. Chatty, informative, stunningly well-researched; often funny. The author takes us not only into the life and career of a very successful (but now forgotten) star, but takes us on some fascinating side-trips as well.

A superb job--many pats on the back to Mr. Gänzl.