Neil Burgess (comedian)
Encyclopedia
Neil Burgess was an American Vaudevillian
comedian who specialized in female impersonation of elderly "widders."
He started his unusual career at age 19 when called on to fill in for an ailing actress in The Quiet Family in Providence, Rhode Island
.
His greatest success was Widow Bedott in 1879. He also produced and starred as Auntie Abigail Prue in Charles Barnard
's play The County Fair in 1889.
Burgess was also interested in inventions tied to the stage and backed a turntable device that allowed horses to run at full speed on stage, and another device that simulated the sound of a large crowd.
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
comedian who specialized in female impersonation of elderly "widders."
He started his unusual career at age 19 when called on to fill in for an ailing actress in The Quiet Family in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
His greatest success was Widow Bedott in 1879. He also produced and starred as Auntie Abigail Prue in Charles Barnard
Charles Barnard
Captain Charles Barnard was a famous castaway.In 1812, the British ship Isabella, captained by George Higton, was shipwrecked off Eagle Island . Most of the crew were rescued by the American sealer Nanina, commanded by Captain Charles Barnard...
's play The County Fair in 1889.
Burgess was also interested in inventions tied to the stage and backed a turntable device that allowed horses to run at full speed on stage, and another device that simulated the sound of a large crowd.