THAR 281 1st Edition Lecture 7 Outline of Last Lecture Restoration Theatre I Women on Stage Outline of Current Lecture I Exam 1 Review a The Origins of Theatre b Intro to Theatre History c French Neoclassical Theatre d English Restoration Current Lecture Exam Review The Origins of Theatre o The three types of playing spaces Proscenium arena thrust o The two most ESSENTIAL elements of theatre Audience Performer o efficacious to do something in order to get a response for example a prayer o methexis Group sharing encourages participation in performances o Stella Adler said Theatre was created to tell people the truth about life and their social situation o o o Specific areas of theatre Performer Audience Text Story Playing Space Visual Elements Intro to Theatre History o Characteristics of Greek theatre Dithyramb unison hymn 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 Sing and dance around an altar of Dionysus Act of worship evolved into theater o The three most common types of Greek plays Comedy ratty costumes Tragedy ornate costumes beautiful masks Satyr mythical creature half goat half man rude and offensive Describe Greek and Roman theatre architecture o Built into a hillside was outdoor seating in an amphitheater o Teatro Olimpico Oldest surviving theatre from Italian Renaissance Three entrances similar to Greek theatre Stadium seating o o o Teatro Farnese First built with a permanent proscenium arch Could be flooded for effect o Lighting Ground row had row of candles chandeliers all lighting was natural light or candles o Liturgical Drama Liturgy drama based on bible stories and saints Performed in church o Pageant Wagon expanded performances out of the church Became a commercial industry Wagons moved around and traveled to different crowds performing mainly bible stories o Mystery Plays series of plays about the life of Christ o Morality Plays Not specifically religious based but about having good morals o Long stage a stage built in a line with houses French Neoclassical Theatre Theatrical practices in France during the early part of the 17th century o Still religious narratives basically still medieval practices o France isn t up to date in the improvements of theatre yet o Medieval theatre practices religious narratives o No scenic effects or proscenium arch Two people who were extremely influential in the introduction of Italian theatrical practices to France o Catherine de Medici o Cardinal Richelieu Confrerie de la Passion o Confraternity of the Passion o A religious group that presented religious plays for over a century o Built Hotel de Bourgogne in 1548 the first permanent indoor theatre in France The French Academy o 40 Writers o Settled debates over dramatic theory and criticism o Still in existence o Cardinal Richelieu created it English Restoration o Audiences during Restoration theatre rowdy and crude o Heroic Tragedy A type of drama that focuses on an unlikely hero o Describe Comedy of Intrigue Comedy with lots of adventure and exploration o Describe Restoration Tragedy Rules of Neoclassic applied works of Shakespeare reworked to fit into neoclassism o William Wycherley One of the best known play rights of comedy of manners primarily wrote this Comedy of manners is comedy making fun of the way people act or ways of upper society Example The Country Wife scene watched in class called the China Closet Scene China is used as a euphemism o Women in theatre Promiscuous tended to be mistresses Important names Aphra Behn Elizabeth Berry Anne Bracegirdle Nell Gywnn mistress to King Charles II