Burlesque vs. Vaudeville: What's the Difference?
Burlesque and Vaudeville Definitions
Burlesque
A literary or dramatic work that makes fun of something, often by means of outlandish exaggeration.
Vaudeville
Stage entertainment offering a variety of short acts such as slapstick turns, song-and-dance routines, and juggling performances.
Burlesque
A ludicrous or mocking imitation; a travesty
The antics of the defense attorneys turned the trial into a burlesque of justice.
Vaudeville
A theatrical performance of this kind; a variety show.
Burlesque
A variety show characterized by broad ribald comedy, dancing, and striptease.
ADVERTISEMENT
Vaudeville
A light comic play that often includes songs, pantomime, and dances.
Burlesque
To imitate mockingly or humorously
"always bringing junk ... home, as if he were burlesquing his role as provider" (John Updike).
Vaudeville
A popular, often satirical song.
Burlesque
To use the methods or techniques of burlesque.
Vaudeville
A style of multi-act theatrical entertainment which originated from France and flourished in Europe and North America from the 1880s through the 1920s.
ADVERTISEMENT
Burlesque
(dated) Parodical; parodic
Vaudeville
An entertainment in this style.
Burlesque
A derisive art form that mocks by imitation; a parody.
Vaudeville
A kind of song of a lively character, frequently embodying a satire on some person or event, sung to a familiar air in couplets with a refrain; a street song; a topical song.
Burlesque
A variety adult entertainment show, usually including titillation such as striptease, most common from the 1880s to the 1930s.
Vaudeville
A theatrical piece, usually a comedy, the dialogue of which is intermingled with light or satirical songs, set to familiar airs.
The early vaudeville, which is the forerunner of the opera bouffe, was light, graceful, and piquant.
Burlesque
A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion.
Vaudeville
A variety show when performed live in a theater (see above); as, to play in vaudeville; a vaudeville actor.
Burlesque
To make a burlesque parody of.
Vaudeville
A variety show with songs and comic acts etc.
Burlesque
To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.
Burlesque
Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical.
It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras.
Burlesque
Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire.
Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people.
Burlesque
An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter, or to ridicule anything.
The dull burlesque appeared with impudence,And pleased by novelty in spite of sense.
Burlesque
A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion.
Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute?
Burlesque
To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.
They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the expression he used into ridicule.
Burlesque
To employ burlesque.
Burlesque
A theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease)
Burlesque
A composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way
Burlesque
Make a parody of;
The students spoofed the teachers
Burlesque
Relating to or characteristic of a burlesque;
Burlesque theater
