THAR 281 Lecture 8Outline of Last Lecture:I. Exam 1 Review:a. The Origins of Theatreb. Intro to Theatre Historyc. French Neoclassical Theatred. English RestorationOutline of Current Lecture: 18th Century English and French TheatreI. The age of EnlightenmentII. 18th Century Dramaa. Drame Bourgeoisb. Ballad Operac. Comic Operad. Sentimental Comedye. Laughing Comedyf. Tearful ComedyIII. Acting StylesCurrent Lecture18th Century English and French Theatre-The Age of EnlightenmentJean-Honore Fragonard, The Swing (1766)- A painting- Lots of paintings from this time deal with leisure and happiness.- What happens in theatre mirrors this impression of life.18th century drama:- Emphasis on : sentimentality- Morality & moral optimismThese 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.Huge difference for this time period in theatre nothing like during Restoration (opulence)!!!- Pattern in history is like a pendulum- things go to one extreme in one era, in the next it swings to the opposite extreme.Denis Diderot: - French philosopher- Discourse on Dramatic Poetry- 1758- Philosopher who also studied theatre, wrote book discoursed saying neoclassical rules to strict and rigid, don’t allow enough freedom in writing,we should create a new theatre type, Drame.- Drame: a type of drama that is serious, AND doesn’t adhere to neoclassical rules.- Diderot felt that in paradox of acting that the way actors move on stage wasnot believable, or natural, he called for more realistic acting styles.- Wrote: Illegitimate son, Proofs of Virtue.Drame Bourgeois- (Bourgeois means middle class)- Drama that deals with the middle class.- Direct violation of neoclassical rules, because it was not about the upper class.- Middle class hero/heroine- Appealed to the masses more, this made it successful!- More realistic action/acting- More realistic scenic element- Moral offered a philosophical solution. Popular to have middle class the focal point of tragedy.Ballad Opera:- From England- No sung dialogue- speak dialogue then sing songs- Songs set to contemporary melodies- made hugely popular, people knew the songs this way!- Middle and lower class characters- Satirical- poking fun at social/political issues- Example from : Beggars Opera- loud short, boisterous songs happy & upbeatComic Opera:- France- No sung dialogue- Songs set to contemporary melodies- Characters inspired by Commedia dell arte- Satirical- Comic Opera developed as an outdoor fairground type of development.- Theatre troupes set up small musicals at fairs, using stock characters and songs people already knew, wrote the song on wood and actors dressed as cupid held signs, while audience would sing along with the actors.Sentimental Comedy:- England- Comedy of manners- with morals…pokes fun at upper class, scandals, affairs gossip… sentimental comedy similar, but in the end, the wicked are punished.- Middle-class morality- Sentimental - SatireLaughing Comedy:- England, - Oliver Goldsmith wrote comedy of manners his plays made it where audiences were forced to laugh at themselves- Oliver Goldsmith wanted the audience to cry and laugh at the same time…. Richard Brinsley Sheridan:- Best known 18th century English comic playwright.- Theater manager, best known work- School for Scandal- good ex: of sentimental comedy- Best comedy of manners since restoration, with a moral at end of the story. Two brothers, one good, one bad- greedy & selfish… both pursuing same girl and want to marry. Charles (good) brother in the end marries Maria, the other Joseph is punished for being wicked.Tearful Comedy:- France- Comedie larmoyante”- Happy endings- Middle-clas morality- Overwrought with sentimentality- so sentimental brings tears to eyes…Acting Styles:- Bombastic, standardized stage movements, address the audience, over the top acting.David Garrick- English, director, and management partner at the Drury lane theatre.- Directs, crafts overall picture of play a relatively new concept at this point.- Most known as first instance of what we believe is a modern day director who shapes the play.- Called for a strict rehearsal period. Started to teach his actors to move and speak more naturally.- Banished spectators from the stage, no audience on stage. Johan Wolfgang Von Goethe- said actors should be highly stylized- If you have a handkerchief, don’t use it at all gross!- German director at the, Weimar court theatreStorm and Stress:- Late 18th century- John Wolfgang Goethe- Goetz von Berlichingen (1773)- Friedrich Schiller the robbers (1782- Group of people who did something different. The forerunner to romanticism.- Small not hugely popular.Theatrical Design:- Mood- Recognizable locations, historical accuracy, 3-D properties, chiaroscuro- Example: lighting can help set the mood…. What we see is that they try to create mood with what they have.- Start to recreate historical scenes….- 3d properties, not just painted, has shape and form, etc…- Chiaroscuro: the study of light and dark.Scena per Angolo:- Multiple point perspectiveo Multiple vanishing pointso Makes things look huge, and more elaborateBibiena Family:- 1690-1787- Worked designing scenery for the stage over 100 yrs..- Baroque art- ornate, lots going on in the design.- angle perspective- Drew scenery, and used baroque art…. - Stage Innovations:o Rooms, silk screens for coloring- create mood, color light, etc…, oil lamps, Auditorium still lit…ground row- introduced, flat piece of landscape used for background.o School for scandal example: the play calls for screen for actor to hide