THAR 281 1st Edition Lecture 7 Outline of Last Lecture I Restoration II Restoration Movie Notes Outline of Current Lecture III Previous History IV Theatre of the Restoration A New Theatre B New Atmosphere C Serious Drama D Comedy V Government and Restoration Theatre Current Lecture I Previous History 1642 1649 English Civil War Parliament closes the theaters of Eng land curfews instated 1649 1660 The Commonwealth Oliver Cromwell the leader of the Puritan Party droll when theatre was banned short quick plays were per formed in peoples homes private theatres where short comedic sketches originated 1660 Charles II returned from France monarchy restored in Eng land hint hint here comes Restoration Modern English theatre s roots lie in the Restoration more so than in the Elizabethan period These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute II Theatre of the Restoration A New Theatre Patents Actresses Before actresses seen on stage were seen as prosti tutes many women joined theatre to become mistresses Proscenium Stage All stages recently moved indoors which gives the ability for lighting set design Scenic design Lighting Shakespeare Greek theatre had none most performances before used the sun only example of Restoration theatre The Rivals look at the set design B New Atmosphere Return of the nobility upper class theatre Permissive libertinism witty behavior language Aphra Behn 1st professional woman playwright and Female Wit Female Wit the paper made fun of female playwrights Restoration Audience to see and to be seen lighting exists in the audience too so it was also about seeing who s with who men only took their mistresses to the theatre C Serious Drama Neoclassicism came about in Renaissance times renewal of classics everyone could read it audience had to behave appropriately Decorum unities of time place and action this was the formula for success at the time which was before the Restoration Restoration Tragedy Heroic Tragedy themes of love and honor heroic character ends with a more positive world view D Comedy Farce found in Commedia Exaggerated physical activity Character types are exaggerated Extreme and ludicrous happenings Comedies of Intrigue Daring exploits of romance and adventure Complicated plots Comedies of Manners Satires the manners and affectations of a social class specifically the upper class s fashion faults Gossip Adultery Sexual Escapades Comedy is more about procreation always about getting to gether Tragedy ends in death Comedy ends in marriage i e roman tic comedy III Government and Restoration Theatre Previous to the Restoration Master of revels in charge of choosing and setting up the plays for the royalty All theatrical activities outlawed in 1642 Charles II issued patents to Davenant and Killegrew in 1660 mean ing only they could show theatre Licensing Act of 1737 okay now everyone can do it again Lord Chamberlain instead of master of revels gives licenses for theatre Covent Garden and Drury Lane licensed theatres