Download Theatrical Genres


Background:
England in the Seventeenth Century
 The Restoration: from 1660 to 1700
 Charles II assumed the throne at
the invitation of the Parliament
 Exiled English nobility
returned from France,
bringing with them
French theatrical
practices
Actress Nell Gwynn with Charles II
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2

Restoration Drama:
 Theatres represented a fusion of Elizabethan,
Italian, and French stage conventions
 Gave a unique flavor to every aspect: texts,
theatre buildings, and set designs
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
3

Restoration Drama: Comedies of Manners
▪ Comedies of manners – form of comic drama that
became popular in 17th century France and English
Restoration that poked fun at the social conventions
of the upper class. They emphasized a
sophisticated atmosphere
▪ Most of the upper-class characters were
disreputable
▪ Emphasized witty dialogue
▪ Audiences: primarily the nobility and the upper class
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
4

Restoration Drama:
▪ Dramatic structure combined features of
Elizabethan theater and the theater of Italy and
France
▪ William Wycherley’s The Country Wife –
 More unified in action than Shakespeare and less scene
changes but does have subplots
 Stock characters with names that describe their traits
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
5

Restoration Drama:
▪ Comedies of Humors
▪ In tradition of Ben Jonson with one trait overshadowing all
others
▪ Comedies of Intrigue
▪ daring exploits of romance and adventure with complicated
plots
▪ Aphra Behn – most successful writer of this genre – a
woman
▪ Female playwrights emerged during the English
Restoration
▪ 1695-96 – London saw productions by 7 female playwrights
▪ Three women very active during this time: Mary Pix, Delariviere
Manley and Catherine Trotter
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
6

Theatre Production in the Restoration
 Performers and Acting Companies
▪ Biggest difference between English Renaissance
and Restoration was women appeared in plays
▪ Performers were hired for a specific period of time
at a set salary
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
7

Theatre Production in the Restoration
continued
 All Restoration Theaters:
▪ were indoor
▪ divided audience into pit, boxes and galleries
▪ could seat about 650
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
8

Background: A More Complex World
 The 18th century was a time of transition
 Western Europe prospered more than ever
before
 Called the Age of Enlightenment
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
9

Eighteenth-Century Drama:
New Dramatic Forms
10

Eighteenth-Century Drama:
New Dramatic Forms continued
 Drame – 18th century French term usually denoting
a serious drama that dealt with middle-class
characters
▪ A new French form of drama
▪ The virtuous were rewarded and the wicked
punished
▪ By the end of the century, was being written in
France, Germany, and England
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
11

Eighteenth-Century Drama:
New Dramatic Forms continued
 Satirical ballad opera –18th century English
dramatic form that burlesqued (satirized)
opera
 Sentimental comedy – focused on morality
rather than laughter
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
12

Theatre Production in the Eighteenth
Century
 Government and Theatre
▪ Government attempted to regulate theatre
▪ England: the Licensing Act
▪ France: restricted what types of plays could be produced,
and granted monopolies to certain theatres
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
13

Theatre Production in the Eighteenth
Century continued
 Eighteenth-Century Theatre Architecture
▪ Theatres became larger to accommodate the new
middle-class audiences
▪ Egg-shaped interiors improved sight lines
▪ Theatre building proliferated throughout Europe
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
14

Theatre Production in the Eighteenth
Century continued
 Scenery, Lighting, and Costumes
▪ Italy produced many scenic innovations
▪ Bibiena family—for nearly 100 years, the most
influential Italian designers and theatre architects
▪ Designs were extravagant
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
15
THE THEATRE AT DROTTNINGHOLM, SWEDEN
This theatre still has the sets and stage machinery that were used when it was built as a court playhouse in the
18th century. It is an excellent example of an Italian proscenium theatre with the pole and chariot system for
changing scenery.
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
16
Multi-point scenic perspective by By Giuseppe Galli Bibiena (1690 - 1756)
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
17

Theatre Production in the Eighteenth
Century continued
 Additional elements sometimes seen in scenic
design:
▪
▪
▪
▪
Ground rows (cut-outs along stage floor)
Large scenic cut-outs (like painted trees)
Rolled back drops
Act drops (curtains at the front of the stage)
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
18

Theatre Production in the Eighteenth
Century continued
 18th century Italian designers are also said to
have introduced the box set – interior setting
using flats to form the back and side walls and
often the ceilings of a room
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
19

Theatre Production in the Eighteenth
Century continued
 The Emergence of the Director
▪ Playwrights and leading performers doubled as
directors
▪ Forerunners of the modern stage director
▪ English actor David Garrick
▪ German playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
20