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Theatre 61B
Medieval to Modern Age Drama
56 cards·by magdalena996
theatre
What led to the rise of theatre in Italy in the 1500s?
Constantinople falls. The nobles flee the Ottomans to Italy and rediscover the Greek and
Roman texts.
How long did Commedia dell'Arte reign?
1550-1750
Why wouldn't the players in Commedia want to write their plays down?
In the 1500s the Catholic Church gained power and required that scripts be sent to them for
approval.
Who was Il Ruzzante?
An (often lewd) actor in commercial plays. He was a Buffoni and Gentleman's Humor specialist.
Built the Carnaro Loggia theatre.
What was the Carnaro Loggia?
An Italian theatre built by Il Ruzzante. One of the first permanent (private) theatre spaces,
architecturally inspired by Greco-Roman style.
What is Commedia dell'Arte mean?
"The Comedy of Professional Players/Skills"
What inspired Commedia dell'Arte?
Il Ruzzante, Roman Atellan Farce, Byzantian mime, jugglers/traveling players, market
culture, the works of Plautus and Terence
What document did Commedia troupes create in lieu of scripts?
Scenarios or Canovaccios (we have about 800; scripts written without dialogue, containing
suggestionsinstead)
Where was Commedia popular?
England, France, Venice, Padua, Italy
What are some conventions of Commedia?
Stock characters, lazzi, stock speeches that are rehearsed but seem improvised (concetti),
entrance/exit duets, traditional costumes
Why did Commedia troupes prefer to be indoors?
It looks more professional, they didn't want to be associated with the riff raff in the piazza,
avoiding weather, entrance fees
Who are the Zanni?
Arlecchino, Pedrolino, Columbina, Brighella
Who are the Vecchi?
Pantalone, Dottore, Capitano
Who are the Innamorati?
In most cases, Isabella and Flavio (high class brought low by their love)
What was the most famous Commedia troupe?
The Gelosi troupe, featuring Isabella Andreini. She loved playing Isabella as a boy or
Isabella mad.
Why did Commedia last as long as it did?
The lazzi, elements of confusion, physical pleasure, physical comedy, master/servant
dialectic, it's formulaic & there's always a happy end.
What are the central concepts of neoclassicism?
Verisimilitude, decorum, eternal truth (good is good, evil is evil), purity of the genres,
the three unities, plays must teach and please
What are the differences between tragedy and comedy in Italian Neoclassicism?
Tragedies are about the highborn, comedy about the low. Tragedies are in verse but comedies
are in prose. Tragedies have an unhappy ending.
Who is Scaliger?
Italian Neoclassicism: no violence, no ghosts, no overt physical action. Created the
'French scene'.
Who is Castelvetto?
Italian Neoclassicism. "Theatre is to please the ignorant multitude". Formalized the three
unities.
Who were the three playwrights famous for writing Commedia Erudita?
Machiavelli (political treatise), Guarini (pastoral plays), Bibbiena (woman-centric
plays)
What are the three types of plays in Italian Neoclassicism?
Intermezzi, Pastoral (domestic plays, not sexualized), Opera (libretto-based)
Who was the first Italian set designer and what were his three distinct sets?
Serlio - his sets were tragic, comic, or pastoral
What were the elements of an Italian Neoclassical stage?
Wings/flat system, proscenium, raked stage, perspective, footlights, with all the action
taking place on the apron
Who was Sabbatini?
A designer who invented the periaktoi (lazy susan for scenic design) and perfected wings by
flying in set pieces
Who was Torell?
A designer who built the chariot and pole system
What two indoor theatres from the Italian Neoclassical period are still in existence?
Farnese (the oldest proscenium) and Olimpico (new Roman theatre with a painted ceiling;
seats 3000, mostly gallery)
What happens in England in 1576?
Elizabeth bans religious plays in England. The Curtain opens its doors for the first time.
When were women allowed in England?
1661
What contributed to the development of English theatre?
Humanism, literacy (printing press), rediscovery of Roman texts, episodic structure, No
Unities, popular entertainment
What were some of the regulations for commercial theatre in England?
No women, lower class players must be sponsored by a nobleman, Master of the Revels, no living
persons represented, no politics, outskirted
What were the types of theatres in Elizabethan England?
Public (Globe), Private (Blackfriars), Court, Banqueting Houses
What were the major acting troupes in England?
The Queen's Men, Lord Admiral's Men (Henslowe), Lord Chamberlain's Men/King's Men
Who were the major actors of the time?
Edward Alleyn (Marlowe
Who were the University Wits?
Thomas Kid ('The Spanish Tragedy'), Christopher Marlowe (formalized iambic pentameter)
Who were the Female Wits?
Susanna Centlivre, Catherine Trotter, Mary Pix, Delarivier Marley
What were the Masques in English theatre?
James I loved intermezzis and allowed Inigo Jones to import them into court. Moral
storiesinvolving dance and costume.
How did theatre survive during the Commonwealth under the Puritans?
Drolls, short and funny plays that could be wrapped up fast. William Davenant put on musical
entertainments.
What were the two companies that were licensed during Restoration?
The Duke
What was the Duke's Company?
A Restoration era company started by William Davenant. Had exclusive rights to ten of
Shakespeare's plays. Thomas Betterton as an actor.
What was the King's Company?
Run by Thomas Killigrew. Performed at Drury Lane. Had older, more established actors than the
Duke's Company.
What marked the Restoration Era?
Restrictions on theatre, nobility claims theatre as their own, Italian influence on
scenery, no neoclassicism, Satire and Sex, Happy endings
What were the two types of comedies during the Restoration era?
Comedy of manners (poking fun at nobles, witty lines, unities, stock characters), and Comedy
of Intrigue (cape and sword)
What were some of the themes in restoration comedies?
Arranged marriage (to hold onto power or money), celebration of courtly life, disdain for
work, chastity vs adultery
In CoM, who is the Courtier?
The entourage; the wealthy gentleman who fawns and flatters for personal gain.
In CoM, who is the Rake?
Modeled on Lord Rochester. A wealthy lecher. A cynic, usually very witty.
In CoM, who is the Wit?
A person of exceptional intelligence and physical/verbal dexterity. Always has a good
comeback; really good at language.
In CoM, who is the Fop?
A very feminine man; vain, fashionable, usually used for a laugh. Tries to be witty but doesn't
always succeed.
In CoM, who are the Cuckold and Coquette?
The Cuckold is the husband of an unfaithful wife: the coquette, a seductive woman who uses her
sex appeal to get what she wants.
Who was the audience of the Restoration era?
Upper class, going to the theatre to be seen; liked to sit in the pit. Orange women around.
How was Restoration theatre different from Elizabethan?
Actors not shareholders anymore; contract based instead. Producer gains more control.
Women onstage. Breeches roles. Benefit performances.
Who was Nell Gwyn?
An orange wench who slept with an actor. After a performance, King Charles II invited her to be
mistress.
Who was Thomas Betterton?
The best actor of his time, noted for his Shakesperean heroes. Head of Duke's Company,
eventually takes King's Company and forms United Comp
Who was Anne Bracegirdle?
A ward of Betterton's; played witty, comic roles. She was a virgin IRL.
What were the theatres like in Restoration England?
Indoor, raked pit, stage is raked, backless benches in pit, wing and shutter systems,
perspective, no historical accuracy with sets/costumes
When and why does Restoration fall?
1698. The Puritans kept attacking it until the sex and wit disappears.