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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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revue
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Theatrical entertainment composed of short sketches and songs of a relatively sophisticated and often satirical nature (as distinct from the more robust tradition of *music hall). Revues were a staple part of the London theatrical scene from the 1890s to 1960s (Under the Clock in 1893 is usually quoted as the first). Charles *Cochran was the foremost producer of revues; Noel *Coward was a frequent writer of revue sketches; and it was in revue that Joyce *Grenfell made her name.
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In the last years before the demise of the form John *Cranko produced a notable surrealist example in Cranks (1956); *Flanders and Swann had a very long run in At the Drop of a Hat (1957); and the convention went out with a blaze in *Beyond the Fringe (1960). Since then the same skills have been alive and well on TV, in a wide range of series such as *That was the Week that Was, *Monty Python's Flying Circus or *Spitting Image.
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