Transcript History of Western Theatre

HISTORY OF WESTERN THEATRE
HOW DID THEATRE, AS WE KNOW IT, COME
TO BE?
GREEK THEATRE
• Rooted in Dionysian festivals of the
6TH CENTURYB.C.
• Life cycle / rebirth, in honor of
the god DIONYSUS
• Began with only a chorus speaking /
unifying story. Later they held
drama contests to honor him
• THESPIS + first actor
• THESPIAN = actor
THESPIS (534 B. C.)
• Defined Theatre
• art of acting a part on stage
• dramatic impersonation of a character other than yourself
• Uncertain whether he was a playwright, an actor, or a priest
• The term “Thespian” comes from his name. It is another word
for “actor”.
DESCRIPTION OF GREEK THEATER
• Took place in large hillside
amphitheaters. Some held up to
20, 000 people!!
• Players included a chorus and their
leader.
• Lines were chanted.
• Chorus performed in an “orchestra”,
not on a raised platform.
• Only Men performed.
•
MANY OF THE STAGE TERMS WE USE TODAY
CAN BE TRACED BACK TO GREEK THEATRE
• ORCHESTRA – flat performance space in front of
hillside
• SKENE – structure to wall off portion of stage
• PROSKENION – façade on the first floor of the skene
• MACHINA – crane-like hoist
• CHORUS – explained, commented and engaged
• TRAGOIDIA – origin of the word TRAGEDY.
GREEK MASKS
• Every character has specific mask
THE RISE OF TRAGEDY
• AESCHYLUS
• Sometimes called father of tragedy. Author of ORESTEIA.
Introduced concept of second actor.
• SOPHOCLES
• Introduces third actor and tragic flaw. Author of ANTIGONE and
OEDIPUS REX. Characters questioned the will of the gods.
• EURIPIDES
• Inner conflict – man vs. conscience. Master of expressing
PATHOS, the mix of human sorrow and compassion. MEDEA is
his most famous work.
COMEDY
• Origin not certain
• Improvised portions of Dionysian festivals?
• Groups (komos) joining Dionysian processions and
exchanging barbs?
• Notable writers:
• ARISTOPHANES – Old Comedy
• MENANDER – New Comedy
ROMAN DRAMA
ROMAN DRAMA
• Mostly adaptations from Greek. Result of invasion. Degraded
theatre into debauchery. (Latin word for play – “ludus”)
• ANDRONICUS – first Roman writer (from a Greek colony)
• PLAUTUS
• TERENCE
• Performed in AMPITHEATERS
• SENECA – wrote “CLOSET DRAMAS”, plays meant to be read
rather than performed.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
• 400 AD, Augustine: “The Theatres are falling, those
sinks of uncleanness and public places of
debauchery. And why are they falling? They are
falling because of the reformation of the age,
because they lewd and sacrilegious practices for
which they are built are out of fashion.”
• Ironically, it is in the church that drama is reborn. A
century later, the church begins producing morality
and liturgical plays to communicate to the
uneducated masses.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
• TROPE – short dramatized scene from the Bible.
• LITURGICAL SONG – Question and answer song
performed by Monks.
• SAINT PLAYS – based on legends of Saints
• MYSTERY PLAYS – stories based on biblical history.
• PASSION PLAY – based on the last week of Christ’s life.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
• Although against theater during Roman Empire,
churches are most responsible for bringing theater
back
• Church needed to establish itself in the community.
• Began using drama to tell stories about religious
holidays
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
• By late 14th century, plays
presented by CRAFT GUILDS
and performed on PAGEANT
WAGONS.
• FOLK PLAYS– planting, harvest
related.
• ROBIN HOOD plays – based on
a hero stealing from the rich and
giving to the poor.
PLAYS MOVE OUTSIDE
• MORALITY PLAYS– dealt
with principles of right and
wrong.
• “EVERYMAN”
RENAISSANCE THEATRE
RENAISSANCE (1400 A.D.)
• Revival of the Greek drama as OPERA.
• Comic troupes – COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE.
• Improvised scenarios using humorous stage business
(LAZZI) using stock characters including
INNAMORATI (young male lover) and INNAMORATAE
(young female lover)
• Spain – CERVANTES, LOPE DE VEGA, and
CALDERON.
• France – professional theatre developed under the
patronage of the STATE.
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
ELIZABETHAN DRAMATISTS
• SHAKESPEARE – noted use of
SOLILOQUY.
• CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE– first use of
BLANK VERSE.
• BEN JONSON– specialized in ENGLISH
COMEDY and made use of existing
beliefs about the HUMORS.
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
• Began early afternoon; ended just
before dusk
• Women never on stage; parts
played by boys
• Attended by all classes of society
• Refreshments sold during
performances
• Audience in a “holiday” mood
ELIZABETHAN PLAYHOUSE
• Inspired by INN YARDS.
• Included:
• PIT – area surrounding the
stage.
• GROUNDLINGS – playgoers
who stood in the pit.
• HEAVENS – roof with
specialized celestial paintings.
• TIRING HOUSE – actor’s
dressing room.
RESTORATION DRAMA
• 1642 – 1660 – government controlled by PURITANS and
all theatre banned. Actors thrown in prison.
• ENGLISH ROYAL PATENT OF 1662. Theatre organized
under the state, women first appear as actors.
• Stage was RAKED.
• Notable authors: WILLIAM WYCHERLY, WILLIAM
CONGRAVES, and GEORGE FARQUHAR.
AFTER SHAKESPEARE
• Moliere
• Trained Commedia actor used
many of the traditions, plots and
devices of that training.
RESTORATION DRAMA
SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER
ENGLISH DRAMA SINCE 1700
• REALISM
• RICHARD BRIMSLEY SHERIDAN– author of SCHOOL
FOR SCANDAL and creator of MRS. MALAPROP.
• OLIVER GOLDSMITH – Author of She Stoops to
Conquer.
• OSCAR WILDE– Noted use of EPIGRAMS and clever
dialogue. Author of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
ENGLISH DRAMA SINCE 1700
• GEORGE BERNARD SHAW –
author of PYGMALLION,
CANDIDA, MAN AND
SUPERMAN.
• “life force” – belief that
humanity will improve.
• “thinking persons society”
– wanted to convert more
to “thinkers”.
THEATRE COMES STATESIDE
THEATRE IN THE U.S.
• DAVID DOUGLASS managed THE AMERICAN
COMPANY.
• Troupes from ENGLAND were first on the American
stage.
• The BARRYMORE family produced a number of noted
American actors.
• Early notable actors:
• IRA ALDRIDGE – an African-American
• CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN – played male roles.
AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHTS
• EUGENE O”NEILL – plays include: The Iceman Cometh,
Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and Strange Interlude.
• LORRAINE HANSBERRY – A Raisin in the Sun.
• CHARLES GORDONE – first African-American Pulitzer
winner.
• ALISON’S HOUSE by SUSAN GLASPELL is another
Pulitzer Winner.
• Neil Simon author of Barefoot in the Park, The Odd
Couple, Rumors, Brighton Beach Memoirs.
MUSICAL THEATRE
• Vaudeville +
Jazz
• Showboat! –
the first hit
musical
MUSICAL THEATRE
• The addition of technical implements gave rise to the
theatrical nature of musical theatre.