Just One of the Boys: Female-to-Male Cross-Dressing on the American Variety Stage

In nineteenth-century America, female-to-male crossdressing in variety shows became popular, with older actresses performing raucous comedy acts. As younger women entered the field, the comedy became less pointed and focused on male leisure and fashion. Gillian M. Rodger explores how male impersonation evolved from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, highlighting the expansion of entertainment towards respectable audiences and the lost theatrical world where women made fun of middle-class restrictions. The performance styles of actresses reflected gender construction in the working class and shifts in class affiliation by parts of the audiences.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 275 pages
\n Publication date: 04 January 2018
\n Publisher: University of Illinois Press
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Female-to-male crossdressing gained immense popularity in the variety shows of nineteenth-century America, originating from the desire of mature actresses to extend their careers. These women embraced raucous comedy acts typically reserved for men, challenging societal norms and gender boundaries. As younger women entered the field, the comedy shifted towards celebrating male leisure and fashion, creating a vibrant theatrical landscape.

Gillian M. Rodger, in her book "The Male Impersonator: Masculinity in American Variety Show," delves into the evolution of male impersonation from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. She explores how the variety show, a hybrid of high- and lowbrow entertainment, underwent a remarkable transformation. Performers and forms consistently expanded upward, attracting respectable and wealthier audiences. Simultaneously, Rodger sheds light on a forgotten theatrical world where women humorously critiqued middle-class restrictions while navigating the boundaries set by audiences.

Onstage, the actresses' changing performance styles reflected the evolving gender dynamics in the working class and the shifts in class affiliations among different segments of the audience. Rodger observes how restrictive standards of femininity gradually confined male impersonators, as new gender constructions allowed women greater access to public spaces while tolerating less independent behavior from them.

Female-to-male crossdressing in nineteenth-century America not only challenged societal norms but also played a significant role in shaping gender constructions and the theatrical landscape. Through the performances of these actresses, audiences were exposed to new perspectives and challenged to rethink their understanding of gender roles and expectations.

\n Weight: 404g\n
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780252083150\n \n