310. Performing

See also 2. ACROBATICS ; 127. DRAMA ; 159. FILMS ; 284. MUSIC ; 378. SONGS and SINGING ; 395. TIGHTROPE WALKING .

Barnumism

showmanship or any activity taking advantage of people’s credulity or desire for sensational entertainment, as practiced by P. T. Barnum (1810-91).

callithumpian

a participant in a noisy mock serenade, as a charivari.

charivari

a mock serenade accompanied by much noise and revelry, often played as a joke on newly married couples.

ecdysiast

a strip tease dancer.

equilibrist

one who performs feats that require an unusual sense of balance, as a tightrope walker.

escapism

the art or technique of escaping from chains, locked trunks, etc., as a form of entertainment. —escapist, n., adj.

funambulism

the art or skill of tightrope walking. —funambulist, n.

harlequinade

a performance involving Harlequin or other characters of the Commedia dell’Arte; hence, buffoonery or clownish behavior. Also called harlequinery .

illusionist

a conjurer or magician who creates illusions, as by sleight of hand.

jugglery

the art of the juggler.

legerdemain

skill in or practice of feats of dexterity that create a magical illusion. —legerdemainist, n.

mimicry

the art or practice of copying or imitating closely, especially by a person for the purpose of entertainment. See also 44. BIOLOGY . —mimic, mimical, adj.

monology

1. the art of performing monologues.

2. Obsolete, a monologue.

mummery

1. a performance by mummers, performers wearing masks or fantastic disguises.

2. any showy but empty performance.

pantomime

the art of mute acting. —pantomimist, n.

pianologue

a humorous performance at the piano, sometimes with a verbal accompaniment by the performer.

prestidigitation

the art of legerdemain; sleight of hand. —prestidigitator, n. —prestidigitatorial, prestidigitatory, adj.

puppetry

the art of making and handling puppets.

recitationist

a person who recites poetry or other literary excerpts for entertainment.

shadowgraph

an image formed by a shadow cast upon a lighted surface, as one formed by the hands for entertainment. —shadowgraphist, n.