125. Soubrette

Kyle lets Emily in on the true theatre kid experience, as they discuss French maids, Italian sopranos, and the history of the word soubrette.

Our hosts reveal how an Occitan word for a servant came to refer to an iconic stock character as common as the Harlequin. From Italian Commedia dell’Arte, to French opera, to Shakespeare, to 1950s farces… the soubrette makes her presence known on every stage!

Kyle also gives us a glimpse into theater life through the ages. Turns out certain stereotypes about singers and actresses go back further than you might think. And lastly, Emily learns that the word soubrette has some versatile uses.