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THEATRE HISTORY MEDIEVAL, COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE,ELIZABETHAN MEDIEVAL THEATRE Medieval period was from about 500 to 1500AD. Christians used theatre to worship and teach the gospel. Performances began as simple chants by priests but gradually became more elaborate. They were called Miracle and Mystery plays. Miracle and Mystery plays are based on saints’ lives and Bible stories. MORE ON MEDIEVAL… Passion plays are based on the last week in the life of Christ. Morality plays are more concerned with the principles taught by Christianity rather than Bible stories. Despite the religious content, there was still silliness and horseplay (Tower of Babel!) Audiences also loved the technical elements. Trap doors, cranes to fly in angels, and Hell’s Mouth, which took 17 men to operate, were all huge hits. RENAISSANCE THEATRE The Renaissance (rebirth) began early in the 14th century. Most famous contribution of the Renaissance was the commedia dell’arte. It had a basic plot, subplot and stock characters. The rest was improvised. It incorporated dancing, signing, acrobatics, mime, and juggling. Actors had to be skilled AND intelligent and talented. COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE Plays were performed by traveling companies with portable stages. Actors played stock characters—they were always the same character and were identified by their masks and elaborate costumes. Young lovers were usually the main plot. The heroine was the inamorata and her hero was the inamorato (beautiful clothes, no masks. Maid—fontesca. Giggly and a flirt. Often one bright, one clumsy. All the servants played a role. Pantalone—heroine’s father. Overbearing and sneaky. Il Capitano—braggart soldier who was actually a coward. ELIZABETHAN THEATRE England was the center of the Renaissance theatre explosion. Three playwrights stand out: Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare. Theatre companies were supported by wealthy noblemen. Women were not permitted to act—it was considered unladylike and unsuitable for women. Young boys played women’s parts. MORE ELIZABETHAN THEATRE Early plays were bawdy. Later plays were more intellectual. Civil War eventually broke out in 1642, and theatre was banned by the Puritans. Elizabethan playhouses were round with scenery and a partial roof. Christopher Marlowe—introduced blank verse. Rival of Shakespeare. Stabbed just before his 30th b-day in a tavern brawl. Ben Jonson—1st real English comic. Lack of higher education. Bitter. Imprisoned several times. William Shakespeare—greatest playwright ever. Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets. All plays published after his death.