Important People
-isms/movements
Types of plays/periods
Who wrote that?
More Important People
100
Irish playwright who attacked the formulaic “well-made” play and wanted theatre to explore controversial issues.
Who is George Bernard Shaw?
100
An attempt to portray lives of middle and lower classes. The anti-romantic movement in Germany, rise of journalism and photography led to a more accurate portrayal of society. Rejection of the “well-made play” in favor of natural movement, dialogue, and ordinary surroundings. Ibsen and Chekhov lead the way for this style.
What is Realism?
100
Humorous and realistic fast paced comedies in reaction to sentimental comedy. “She Stoops to Conquer” by Oliver Goldsmith was the first of these plays. Richard Brinsley Sheridan also penned “The Rivals" and "The School for Scandal” which featured fashionable characters and witty dialogue.
What is the "Laughing Comedy"?
100
Wrote the comedies Blithe Spirit and Private Lives.
Who is Noel Coward?
100
Influenced by Theatre of Cruelty and Epic Theatre, he produced large scale energetic plays where actors played instruments, sang, and performed acrobatics. Produced many of Shakespeare’s works in a non-traditional way, wrote The Open Door. Any space can be a place for theatre.
Who is Peter Brook?
200
American playwright and actor, his plays blend science fiction, the American West and pop culture. Take place in non-specific locations in the American Plains. The loner or drifter is often the protagonist. Wrote Buried Child and Icarus’s Mother, among others.
Who is Sam Shepard?
200
Introduced sets that looked as real as possible, characters spoke in a natural way, plausible storylines. An extension of realism and strove to make theatre more useful to society. Actors should act out of their own experience since plays should imitate reality.
What is Naturalism?
200
Drew on theories of Aristotle, adhered to “classical unities” (formalizing time, place, and action). Strict five act division of plays, realistic characters.
What is Neoclassical French theatre?
200
Her plays were banned in Hollywood for a time. Wrote the Children's Hour.
Who is Lillian Hellman?
200
Originated Epic theatre and was a champion for Marxism and intended to shock the bourgeoisie. He wanted audiences to observe the spectacle objectively without connecting emotionally with the characters. Theatre should teach social lessons and reject realistic illusion.
Who is Bertholt Brecht?
300
Father of modern drama, Norwegian playwright who utilized realism, and symbolism. Created “problem plays” showing middle class life. Showed the contradiction between the will and possibility. Penned “A Doll’s House” and “Hedda Gabler”, among others.
Who is Henrik Ibsen?
300
Anti-realistic movement developed in Russia before WWI. A stark and artificial design with abstract forms characterized this movement. The Soviet Union regime banned all modern art movements since they were not useful for propaganda. Vsevolod Meyerhold was a key theatre artist in this movement.
What is Constructivism?
300
A burlesque style which combined spoken dialogue and songs set to popular tunes. First one was The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay
What is the Ballad Opera?
300
Their first musical was Oklahoma! Also wrote South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music and may others.
Who are Rogers and Hammerstein?
300
One of Russia’s greatest tragic dramatists. “The Seagull”, “the Cherry Orchard”, and The Three Sisters showed a society on the cusp of change. Individual are so uncertain of what will happen in the future that they distract themselves with either routine or daydreaming. Beyond simple realism, he was a major inspiration for modern playwrights.
Who is Anton Chekhov?
400
One of the most prolific playwrights of the 20th century. Portrayed comedic elements of middle-class life. Also wrote screenplays. Pulitzer prize winner.Plays include Brighton Beach Memoirs and Rumors.
Who is Neil Simon?
400
Developed in Europe around the time of WWI, particularly in Germany. Focused on tragic issues such as the horrors of war, expressed a distorted view of reality though the point of view of the main character.
What is Expressionism?
400
Used conventional plot contrivances and romantic plots; French playwright Eugene Scribe wrote hundreds of these plays which were imitated all over Europe. “make ‘em laugh make ‘em weep”
What is the Well-Made Play?
400
Wrote Long Day's Journey into Night, The Hairy Ape, and the Iceman Cometh.
Who is Eugene O'Neill?
400
Designed surreal stage sets which sought to capture the feeling of dramatic works symbolically rather than realistically. Used outlines, forms, colors and lighting to express atmosphere. Believed director should be in complete artistic control. A force in anti-naturalist trends of the time and influenced ideas about a director’s role.
Who is Gordon Craig?
500
Considered greatest French comedy writer. Controversial writer who wrote against religious hypocrisy through a string of successful comedic satires. Works include The Miser, The Imposter, and Tartuffe.
Who is Moliere?
500
A reaction against artistic illusion and emotion in the theatre, also known as Theatre of Alienation, Brecht and Piscator sought to use theatre to serve the Marxist social purpose of educating audiences. Abandoned traditional techniques of stagecraft, they used artificial devices such as posters, cartoons, and film to distract the audience from theatrical illusion and allow them to concentrate on the play’s message.
What is Epic Theatre?
500
In England, after the Puritans outlawed theatre from 1642-1660, theatre was created for the aristocracy. Charles II returned from his exile in France and sponsored this movement. “Comedy of Manners” was characterized by witty dialogue, romantic and sexual overtones and most had to do with cuckolding a husband without getting caught. New innovations in scene design (more realistic sets) and lighting (candles) were created at this time.
What is Restoration theatre?
500
Won two Pulitzer Prizes, wrote The Piano Lesson, Fences, and Two Trains Running, among others.
Who is August Wilson?
500
Wrote Angels in America, plays are political tragicomedies written with compassion and linguistic verve. Exploration of philosophical problems, moral responsibility and specific social issues. Pulitzer prize winner.
Who is Tony Kushner?
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