Transcript Introduction to Theatrical Styles

19 th Century to Modern Times
 Also known as “-isms”
 Refers to the way a play is written,
produced, and acted.
 Can also affect other elements such as set
design, costuming, and effects.
It is important to know the various theatre
styles in order for an actor (or director or
designer) to choose the style of language
and action that suits the script and
expresses their ideas.
 Time period in which it was written.
 Prevailing culture of that time.
 Conventions (the “standard” way of doing things for
that time)
 Current popular philosophies.
 Representational
Traditional style of theatre; uses
the “fourth wall” as if the audience
were watching through a window.
 Presentational
Can be experimental and avantgarde; acknowledges that the
audience is present by having the
action take place in the seating
area and having characters speak
directly to the audience.
 Romanticism - Early 19th Century
 Naturalism– Mid-19th Century
 Realism – Late 19th Century
All of these styles were
representational
in convention
 Rejected neoclassical rules and suggested that




genius creates its own rules.
Focused on emotions, sentiment, and imagination.
Elaborately staged and used supernatural
elements.
Heroes were independent and defended
individuality.
Common theme was the gulf between human
beings’ spiritual aspirations and their physical
limitations.
 Edmond Rostand – Cyrano de Bergerac
 Victor Hugo - Hernani
 Goethe - Faust
 Alexander Dumas - The Count of Monte Cristo
 Based views on contemporary scientific theory.
 Aimed to present ordinary life as accurately as
possible – no theatrical sense – in the extreme…
“slice of life” and “real flies on real meat”
 Showed how human beings act in response to
forces of nature and society that are beyond their
control.
 Subject matter emphasized the boredom,
depression, and frustration of contemporary life.
 August Strindberg – Miss Julie
 Eugene O’Neill - The Iceman Cometh
 John Osborne - Look Back in Anger
 Sam Shepard - Curse of the Starving Class
 Replaced the artificial romantic style with accurate




depictions of people in plausible situations.
Writers refused to make simple moral judgments or to
resolve dramatic action neatly.
Presents life as it actually is; characters talk, dress, and act
as people in ordinary life do.
Actors attempt to become their characters; living their lives
in a real room with the audience spying on them through
the invisible fourth wall.
Ushered in modern theatre and revolutionized
contemporary theatre in every aspect, from scenery to
styles of acting; from dialogue to makeup.
 Anton Chekhov – Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters
 Henrik Ibsen - A Doll’s House, Ghosts
 Arthur Miller - All My Sons
 Horton Foote - Roads to Home, Valentine
 Beth Henley - The Impossible Marriage
 N. Richard Nash – The Rainmaker
 Agatha Christie – Ten Little Indians
 Lanford Wilson – Talley’s Folly