Carnegie Mellon University Press Drama-The Half of It

A play that explores the influence of pioneer drag artist Bert Savoy.The Half of It is inspired by the life and work of Bert Savoy, a Vaudeville drag artist who was active in the 1910s and early 1920s. Savoy was at the height of his career when he was tragically killed by lightning in 1923. The play highlights the groundbreaking and inspirational work of this important, yet largely forgotten, pioneer. Characters include some of Savoy's famous friends, such as Klondike Kate and Mae West (who many believe borrowed her sassy stage persona from Savoy's drag act). The play explores themes of gender identity, gender expression, celebrity in the modern era, the LGBTQ community of the early twentieth century, and the origins of contemporary drag performance.