The Evolution Of Stage Entertainment

Youtube Video Of Various Vaudeville Performances 

(Courtesy: Galloping Alligator's Muck Pond)

After watching the video shown above, it is fascinating to see how Broadway has evolved from vaudeville, burlesque, and cabaret.

I was particularly impressed with the woman who could pick up a chair with her teeth and swing it around effortlessly. This is impressive by today's standards, as many people would usually break their teeth or be sent to the dentist expecting a hefty bill. It certainly holds weight against some acts seen on the television show America's Got Talent. This burlesque dancer could have made quite a living if she were born in the 21st century. 

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the footage and the various acts despite being from 1898 to 1910. The acrobat in particular is worth noting. She was able to fully exercise her talent and skill without any limitations or safety nets, making her performance exquisite and enthralling. Nowadays almost every professional performance artist has a manager who advises against many of the death-defying acts for the purposes of safety. In many cases, some acts do not get clearance and force the performer to limit their routine. This puts a damper on many performers who do not get a chance to fully express themselves. This as opposed to freelance exhibitionists, who seem to hold a reputation for doing whatever they feel inspired by and can pull off to draw a crowd, make headlines, or leave a lasting message.

Broadway is now reserved for large feature productions yet has deeply ingrained roots within vaudeville, burlesque, and cabaret. It is difficult to recognize a Broadway show for its brilliance without paying homage to the three performance styles that it has stemmed from. Today's Broadway shows are so elaborate and feature performance art, digital imaging, and an ensemble. Talent is just as good as it was as the art form developed over the years.

Coldplay by Mike Tompkins

Mike Tompkins' A Capella cover of Paradise by Coldplay
(Courtesy: www.tedeschi.mx)

The Youtube video by Mike Tompkins performing Paradise by Coldplay in A Capella was astounding. His voice is extremely versatile and is able to prove he can compose a song on his own. I have seen a few songs performed in A Capella, however, this is by far one of the more eye catching and involved out there. The addition of the multiple camera appearances definitely increases the engagement with viewers. With all of the sounds and movements his mouth makes, viewers can watch all of the effort that went into the making of the song.

The art of opera singing has evolved drastically since its creation in 16th century. Nowadays singers must reach and exceed new heights as they expand their talents far beyond just singing. Mike Tompkins displays this well as he demonstrates his skill beatboxing, singing and creatively imitating instruments as seen in his other videos. The singer of today seems to be well versed in a variety of fields, in addition to drawing inspiration from other talented artists. Even today's artists are somewhat of a technological genius. For someone whose main talent is singing, his videographer skills are impressive proving a true blend of technology and art in this modern age.

With the assistance of Youtube, millions of people are able to broadcast their talents and shared skills with the world. This expanded audience opens up many opportunities that they otherwise would not normally have. Many Youtube stars with a million or more followers started just like any other amateur user did when originally creating an account, with a minimal fanbase and a desire to reach thousands of viewers around the world. If opera in the 16th century had the ability to attract such a vast crowd for free, like Youtube has done for vocalists such as Mike Tompkins, then it would have been bigger in other countries than just Europe. Every culture has their own take on performance art and singing, yet all do not stem from opera itself, rather takes influences from each other and their traditional roots.

Overall, the modern day singers have evolved since Italian theatre and moved to an electronic stage than can be viewed by everyone at all times.