Download The Middle Ages to 1800

The Middle Ages to 1800
Medieval Theatre:
 For approximately 400 years there was no theatre, except for sparse
folk festivals and a few wandering jugglers and minstrels, or
wandering bands of tribes.
 The Church buried drama in the 5th century resurrected that same art
sometime during the 9th century when it introduced the trope (short
dramatized scenes into the mass.)
 At first brief Easter and Nativity tableaus (representations of a scene
performed by motionless people in costume) were given to help the
illiterate congregation understand the service.
 The scenes became so popular that whole stories began to be enacted.
Three types of plays were presented in the Middle Ages
1.) Mystery plays: bible stories re-enacted
2.) Miracle plays: enacting the lives of the saints
3.) Morality plays: stories teaching right from wrong in which
characters personified abstract qualities, virtues and vices
 Small platforms called mansions, or stations, were placed within the
cathedral.
 In the 10th century, a nun, Hrosvitha wrote religious comedy that was
performed on the cathedral mansions.
 As comedy was added crowds became so large that in the 13th or 14th
century, the mansions were moved outside to the marketplace.
 Trade guilds (unions) sponsored the plays.
 Pageant wagons were often used instead of stationary mansions,
these were double-decker wagons, and each wagon contained an
episode.
 The plays performed on pageant wagons were called cycles.
 The passion play evolved during the late Middle Ages, depicted
scenes from Christ’s life.
Renaissance Theatre:
Italian Theatre of the Renaissance
 The Renaissance means “rebirth,” as ancient classic writers were
rediscovered, a rebirth of learning occurred throughout Europe.
 Comedia dell’arte was professional improvised comedy performed in
the streets for the masses.
 Stock characters were developed: Harlequin was the clever, witty
servant; Pierrot was lovelorn and moody; Columbine was flirtatious
and pretty; Pantalone was the gullible father.
 The cast of comedia dell’arte included the first women on the stage.
Spanish Theatre of the Renaissance
 Spanish dramatists were successful in establishing an original art
form, free from the classical rules that fettered so many Italian and
French writers. They ignored the unities of time and place.
 Miguel de Cervantes: wrote 30 plays but is better known for writing
Don Quixote
 Lope de Vega: wrote 2000 plays full of beautiful poetry, vigorous
action, and dashing romance.
 Calderon: wrote 200 plays distinguished by their spiritual emphasis
and elevated poetry.
French Renaissance Theatre
 French drama developed into entertainment mainly for royalty.
 Moliere: wrote witty satires such as Tartuffe satirize hypocrisy, and
The Imaginary Invalid that spoofs hypochondria.
Elizabethan Theatre
 Great vitality, zest, and intellectual curiosity occurred during Queen
Elizabeth I’s reign.
 Christopher Marlow is considered next to Shakespeare as the
greatest dramatist of tragedy in England. In his short life, he only
lived to the age of twenty-nine, he wrote seven plays. His best known
was Dr. Faustus.
 Ben Johnson was a classic writer. When James I inherited the throne,
Johnson entertained the court with masques, great extravaganzas of
song, dance, and recitation.
 William Shakespeare was born April 23, 1564 and died April 23,
1616. Shakespeare is considered the greatest of all English
dramatists, if not the world’s. Shakespeare was born in Stratfordupon-Avon. He wrote thirty-eight plays, he created histories,
comedies, tragedies, and fantasies. His plays combined skillful plot
and character development with majestic use of language. His works
include Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer’s
Night Dream. Shakespeare’s luminous soliloquies, speeches where
actors talk alone to reveal their thoughts aloud. Was the part of the
acting troupe called Lord Chamberlain’s Men and was part owner in
the Globe Theatre.
 English theatres are closed done by Oliver Cromwell and his Puritans
in 1642.
Restoration
 In 1660 English theatres reopen when King Charles II returns to
England.
 In 1660 women are allowed to perform in English plays for the first
time.
 Plays at this time are mainly Comedies of Manners, plays that look
and ridiculer the ridiculous behaviors of the wealthy.