THAR 281 1st Edition Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture French Neoclassical Theatre I King Louis XIV a Palace of Versailles II Early French Theatre a Confrerie de la Passion b Hotel de Bourgogne c Italian Influence III French Neoclassicism a Cornielle Racine Moliere b French Acting c French Theatre Outline of Current Lecture Restoration Theatre I Commonwealth II Restoration III Drama during Restoration a Heroic tragedy b Restoration tragedy c Opera d Comedy of Intrigue e Comedy of Manners IV The Theatre during Restoration Current Lecture Restoration Theatre Commonwealth o Oliver Cromwell Lord protector of Commonwealth of England Began in 1642 Commonwealth ended with Cromwell s death in 1658 the monarch was restored Restoration 1660 1700 o Theatre is brought back 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 1660 Charles II returns to England Theatre is portrayed as licentious and permissive Characterized by sexuality o Theatre s audience consisted of upper class and nobility o Upper class and aristocracy acted over the top Type of Drama during Restoration o Heroic Tragedy tragedy with an unlucky hero o Restoration Tragedy written with rules of neoclassicism many playwrights took Shakespeare s plays and re wrote it to fit into tragedy o Opera began in Florence Italy then comes to England o Comedy of Intrigue comedy with adventure and exploration o Comedy of Manners Restoration is namely known for this comedy It poked fun at aristocracy usually through by portraying secrets and affairs among nobles Restoration Audience o When commonwealth first began it put an end to theatre However with the return of King Charles II two men previously involved in theatre were allowed charters to continue with their theatre troupes o Thomas Killigrew 1612 1683 Had a charter for one of two theatre troupes His troupe was the King s Company Famous for Poet Laureate o William Davenant 1606 1668 Brought Opera to England with the first one Siege of Rhodes Charles II allowed him to have one of two patents for theatre troupes His troupe was Duke s Company Comedy of Manners o Moliere influenced o Based on gossip adultery scandals o Witty and suggestive dialogue Theatre during Restoration William Wycherly o Wrote one of the best known playwrights of Comedy of Manners The Country Wife The Plain Dealer o Known for his use of language Poked fun at aristocracy Made fun of society Aphra Behn o Most well known woman playwright of Restoration and a novelist In general Comedy of Intrigue The Rover 1677 her famous playwright Oroonoko 1688 well known novel o Charles the II noticed during his time in France that women were on the stage and brought this to England during the Restorationo She was a spy for Charles II o The divine Astrea this was her code name meaning goddess Samuel Pepys 1633 1703 English Naval administrator and part of Parliament who documented his experience with theatre He kept a diary from 1660 1669 of his regular trips to the theatre noting the audience s reaction especially to women in theatre Anne Bracegirdle o 1663 1748 o Famous actress singer considered virtuous something uncommon among women actors at this time If you were an actress at this time you were considered a whore Women were not treated with dignity in this business o She starred in Aphra Behn s The Widow s Ranter 1689 Mainly played in breeches roles Or pants role when a women portrayed a man s character in theatre Due her role she was considered the celebrated virgin Nell Gwynn o Pretty Witty Nell o She worked the theatre as an orange wench until she took the stage o Mistress to King Charles II didn t keep her affairs quiet