Transcript Romanticism
Romanticism • Europe and America • mid-1700s to mid-1800s • movement in art, literature, music, theatre… • reaction against Neoclassicism Romanticism • emotional rather than intellectual • focused on topics like – nature – human individualism – innocence of past and children – the supernatural or mysterious Romanticism - Germany • sturm and drang = (“storm and stress”); a subcategory of Romanticism • Goethe - Faust Romanticism - France • Victor Hugo – Hernani – caused a riot—not “neo-classical enough” (common people as protagonists, struggle against gov’t, violence, death, and humor) Some Famous Actors of the Time • • • • David Garrick Sarah Siddons Edmund Kean Henry Irving (1st English actor to be knighted) • Sarah Bernhardt • Edwin Booth Romantic Theatre • Upper class—opera, ballet; middle-class— theatre • As seeing becomes more important than hearing the orchestra seats (which had up till then been the cheap seats) became more valuable. • Scenery included drops, flats, and ground rows (cutaway flats standing free on the stage floor). Romantic Theatre • natural settings - carefully and realistically painted • candles or oil lamps – but by 1830, gaslight was used • special effects: flying, trap doors, water pump systems, moving panoramas to give the illusion of travel, treadmills by the late 1800 (allowed for horses and chariot races, etc.), volcanic eruptions, fires, etc. Romantic Theatre • Romanticism was not at all realistic in its acting, drama, or direction • In set, costume, and lighting it attempted to be as realistic as possible • the rise of the director Plays During This Time… There were still some successful playwrights using the Comedy of Manners style. • Richard Sheridan – The School for Scandal; The Rivals – In the play The Rivals, there is a character named Mrs. Malaprop—she had a habit of mixing up words and using them incorrectly (which was humorous)—we get the term malapropism from her. Some Malaprops/Malapropisms… • “groinocology” – Archie Bunker • “Alcoholics Unanimous” – Mayor Richard Daley • “electrical votes” – Yogi Berra • "Well I try to look at the bright side. I guess you could say I'm an internal optometrist.“ – Steve Carell, Dinner for Schmucks • “Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and a child.” – former VP Dan Quayle Romantic Theatre - Melodrama • exaggerated plot and characters to appeal to emotions • orchestral music or song often accompanied the action (add to emotion) • use of stock characters – a hero (always the fearless one) – heroine (the love of the hero, usually the one that the hero saves) – villain (usually likes the heroine too) – villain's sidekick (typically gets in the way of or annoys the villain). Romantic Theatre - Burlesque • elaborate and spectacular theatrical production (extravaganza) • a comic, musical play that parodies (imitates and mocks) a well-known opera, play, or ballet • sometimes cross-dressing (“breeches roles”) • later associated with variety show, bawdy comedy, and female striptease.