THAR 281 Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture: Intro into Theatre HistoryI. DithyrambII. Greek, Medieval, and Religious DramaIII. Comedia Dell’ ArteIV. Italian Renaissance (1400-1650) :a. Italians are moving forward imitating Greeks, criticized drama, moving away from medieval times. V. Neoclassical Ideals VI. Innovations in Theatrical ArchitectureVII. English Renaissance TheatreOutline of Current Lecture: French Neoclassical TheatreI. King Louis XIVa. Palace of VersaillesII. Early French Theatrea. Confrerie de la Passionb. Hotel de Bourgognec. Italian InfluenceIII. French Neoclassicisma. Cornielle, Racine, Moliereb. French Actingc. French Theatre:i. Theatre du Mariasii. Palais Royaliii. Salle des Machinesiv. Comedie Francaisev. Court FestivalsCurrent LectureFrench Neoclassical Theatre- King Louis XIV:o Extravagant King of France, the red heel shoe is attributed to him.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.- Palace of Versailles:o Louis XIV ‘s home.o Giant, very ornate, and gold. - Early French Theatre:o France isn’t up to date in the improvements of theatre yet.o Early 17th Centuryo French theatre has little in common with Italian theatre- Medieval theatre practices & religious narratives- No scenic effects or proscenium arch.- Confrerie de la Passion:o Confraternity of the Passion, religious group that presented religious plays over a century. o 1548 Hotel de Bourgogne: the first permanent indoor theater in Paris.o 1548 religious plays in Paris banned before the French could use the theatre…These are really important things that paved the way for France into the present. - Hotel de Bourgogne:o 1548, 1st permanent indoor theatre in Paris- Italian influence on French Theatreo Helped bring France into the theatre sceneo Comedia dell ‘arteo Court festivals: - Spectacle & Pageantry- Lacked characters & plot- Italian Influence in Franceo Catherine de Medici-- Catherine- married Henry II of France, she brought expectations of pageants and festivals. Toured France and helped bring theatrical festivity to France.o Cardinal Richelieu-- Good guy in terms of theatre, realized France was behind, brought over Italian architect’s and created the French academy, a group of writers who critiqued theatre using neoclassical rules, academy exists today.- French Neoclassicismo 1636o The French Academy- 40 writers- Dealt with arguments over criticism and dramatic theory - Created by Cardinal Richelieu and exists today.- Peire Cornielleo Playwright- known because he worked very hard to adhere to the neoclassical rules: time, place, and action (three unities). Decorum- acting appropriately., and Verisimilitude- believable, true to life.o Piere wrote comedy and tragedy most known for El Cid (1636-- 1637)‐ interesting because the play doesn’t follow neoclassical rules. o Was elected to the French Academy in 1647 Le Cid:A play about two young lovers, young man kills his true love’s father... bad idea... she is obliged toavenge her father, and challenges him to a duel, (someone else fights for her) and she thinks that her love is killed. She confesses to the King in her anguish, because she still loves him. Her true love turns out to be only injured and the King allows them to marry. - Many were unhappy since it didn't follow neoclassicism. Tragedy, should end tragically, not happy. Goes against decorum, the French academy debated play for several years, finally concluding that the play had good stuff going for you, but as far as the rules go, it’s not a good play. - Jean Racine: Jean Racine: wrote tragedies, (rhyming couplets)adhered to Neoclassical form famous for Phaedra (1677)Phaedra:-a story of incest. Basically, play starts in middle of action, Phaedra has fallen in love with her stepson... hearing the king was killed in battle, she confesses her love, but it is unrequited. Then a messenger comes, and saying the king is alive and shortly after the King returns. Phaedra afraid the stepson will tell of her confession lies to the king that the son came to her. In anger the king kills his son. In anguish Phaedra confesses what she did, and kills herself.- Moliere Jean Baptist Poquelin (1622-1673) -wrote Tartuffe. He was a dramatist and actor. Wrote farce: a comedy to the extreme. The majority of his comedy poked fun at aristocrats.  He wrote in couplets, and broke some neoclassical rules:  Tartuffe for example: Dorine the maid tells everyone what’s on her mind.  As an actor in Moliere plays the voice of reason was always the servant character...  Founded Theatre Illustre (1643) Famous plays: The Miser, The Misanthrope, The School for Husbands- French Acting Companies had women sharing plan- two levels of people: Pensionnaires - contracted out for small amount of time for certain shows Societaires - people who held share within the company, owning part of company and stock, always employed by company.  Reparatory theatres: had a lot of plays over time period not just one.o French Actors and Audiences: French acting styles, not a lot of evidence for what it was like. Not naturalistic.  Acting styles were over the top, short rehearsal periods, multiple roles playing, and improve. Influenced by Comedia-slapstick acting-(physical). Actors had to play over the crowd, people came to theatre to be seen and watch the theater.  Audiences: crowds were known for being out of control... actors had to outdo the crowd. Hard since normally crowd was drunk, loud, and obnoxious...this was a constant.- Theatre du Mariaso Built in 1634 almost a century after the Hotel de Bourgogne! It was a converted indoor tennis court. o Commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu, originally called Palais Cardinal.o It was the first proscenium arch theatre in France, designed by Giacomo TorelliGiacomo Torelli: the great wizard, an architect hired to come to France and build the theatre with modern engineering. The theatre featured Italian scene shifting machinery.o The theatre accommodated 1500 people, and the wealthy could purchase a seat on stage.- Salle des Machineso "Hall of Machines"- giant theatre o Largest theatre in Europe at time. Had every piece of modern machinery in it... was too big to use! Huge lift for that over 100 people could fit on... extravagant, and over the top.