Revue developed in the 1890s and was a collection of short
sketches, songs, dances, comic interludes and even short plays.
It differed from variety in that the acts were linked by a topical
idea or theme.
In 1903 the first black revue In Dahomey reached the
Shaftesbury Theatre introducing ‘The Cakewalk’, which
became the latest dance craze. Other successful box offices
imports from America included the revue Blackbird starring
Florence Mills which opened in 1926.
Some music halls introduced revue as part of their regular
programmes, featuring striking sets and large casts. By 1912,
revues were very fashionable mostly because they included the
latest American ragtime songs, like ‘Everybody’s
Doing It’ and Irving Berlin’s ‘Alexander’s
Ragtime Band’. First of the big American-style spectacular
revues was Hullo Rag-Time! in 1912. Hullo Tango!
at the London Hippodrome in 1913 had costumes designed by Leon
Bakst.
Revue in the 20s and 30s
