A look at the circus, theater and variety spectacles guided by the pen of Machado de Assis

Abstract

Adopting as a reference the theatrical critics, chronicle, and other literary productions of the writer Machado de Assis, we intend with this article to present a look at the circus, theater and variety presentations of Rio de Janeiro in the second half of the 19th century. Guided by his writings, we can get in touch with his critical postures and preferences regarding the artistic offerings of the period and understand, to a certain extent, the profusion of circus and variety shows in the city, the competition they offered to theatrical productions and even the discourses contrary to the circus performances given by both Machado de Assis and other authors of the period. Thus, the Machadian chronicles and critiques approach an interesting panorama of the dramaturgy scene, the circus exhibitions, and the varied attractions of the time, favoring the understanding of the functioning of the artistic scene and of national entertainments in the second half of the 19th century.