Performing

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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 peoples 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 dellArte; 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.

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