Transcript Early American Drama

EARLY AMERICAN
THEATRE
1700’s – Civil War
Starting in the 1700’s, entertainers (actors) from
England performed in U.S. large cities.
Remember, the colonies were just starting out.
There were little (or no) theaters or entertainers to
perform for the colonists.
So, actors from England traveled to the colonies to perform.
During the Revolutionary War,
many colonies banned theatrical
performances to focus on the war.
In the early 1800’s, well known
stars toured the country.
The most popular
theatrical form of
the 1800’s.
What is Melodrama?
The word "melodrama"
comes from "melos", the
Greek word for song,
combined with "drama".
Music is used to increase
the emotional response or
to suggest characters.
MELODRAMA CHARACTERISTICS:
I.
II.
III.
Clear distinctions between good and evil.
The forces of good always won at the end of the play.
Music was used to enhance the story (through emotions) and to represent
characters.
A villain poses a threat, the hero escapes the threat (or rescues the
heroine) and there is a happy ending.
"... A bad gunslinger called Salty Sam was chasin' poor
Sweet Sue
"He trapped her in the old sawmill and said with an evil
laugh,
"If you don't give me the deed to your ranch
"I'll saw you all in half!
"And then he grabbed her (and then)
"He tied her up (and then)
"He turned on the bandsaw (and then, and then...!) …”
The Most Successful Melodrama was:
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
by
Harriet Beecher Stowe
So what does this have to
do with today’s theatre?
Melodrama is ubiquitous (being everywhere) on television
and movies: it is evident, for example, in a long series of TV
movies about diseases or domestic violence, or the large
number of hour-long television programs about lawyers,
police officers, or physicians.
Issues melodrama is a type of melodrama in which
current events are given a dramatic treatment, hoping
to use some recent crime or controversy as a way to
draw an emotional response from the viewer.
Action melodrama is another type of melodrama that is
particularly big in the action Hollywood film blockbuster.
An athletic action hero is pitted against an evil villain, and
through a series of fights, car chases, love scenes and
splatter, the hero overcomes the villain and restores the
balance of good in the universe.
Informal use / Slang Casual use of the word as an adjective
is used to exaggerate emotions.
For example: "Don't be so (melo)dramatic!"
This has fallen into common everyday language.
Summary of the Characteristics of Early American Drama:
•During the Revolutionary War, many colonies banned theatrical
performances to focus on the war.
•Starting in the 1700’s, entertainers from England performed in large U.S.
cities.
•In the early 1800’s, well known stars toured the country.
•MELODRAMA was the most popular theatrical form of the 1800s.
•Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the most performed melodrama.
•MELODRAMA CHARACTERISTICS:
I. Clear distinctions between good and evil.
II.
The forces of good always won at the end of the play.
III. Music was used to enhance the story and to represent characters.
THE
END!!