Sex Changes In The Music Halls (Press, 23 January 1988)

Vesta Tilley, written by Sara Maitland and published in 1987 by Virago Press, is a detailed exploration of the life and career of Vesta Tilley, a renowned performer of the Victorian music halls. Matthews' review highlights the transformation of music halls from venues associated with social vice in the 1840s to platforms for talented performers like Tilley by 1912, when she appeared in a Royal Command Performance. Tilley specialised in "performance drag" and became a notable male impersonator, achieving significant fame and wealth despite her working-class origins. The book delves into Tilley's rise to prominence as Lady de Frece, the wife of a Conservative MP, and examines her duality in maintaining societal respect while being a pioneering drag performer. Maitland emphasises Tilley’s perfectionism in her craft, noting her meticulous approach to performance, including her choice of costumes and body maintenance. Tilley's retirement from the stage in 1920 marked the end of an illustrious career that spanned five decades. Her final song received a lengthy ovation, signifying the impact she had on her audience and her peers. Behind the scenes, however, Tilley's personal life was characterised by decorum and a commitment to her marriage, contrasting with the scandal often associated with her contemporaries in the performing arts. Maitland's work is not merely a biography; it addresses broader socio-political issues related to gender and performance. The book contemplates the implications of cross-dressing in an era striving for gender equality and examines the historical context of women who defied social conventions through their attire. By referencing other historical cross-dressers, such as Joan of Arc and Greta Garbo, the author positions Tilley's contributions within a larger feminist narrative, illustrating how these figures sought liberation from the constraints of their gender roles. The review also contrasts the societal acceptance of male impersonators versus female impersonators, highlighting how the latter often reinforced negative stereotypes of women. Tilley, by contrast, managed to navigate this landscape with poise, carefully curating her performances to resonate with the middle-class audiences that supported her. Overall, "Vesta Tilley" is described as an engaging blend of theatrical history and scholarly commentary on women's shifting roles and gender ambiguity over the past century. The book serves as both an homage to Tilley’s extraordinary talent and a thought-provoking examination of the cultural dynamics of gender and performance.

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