Greek Theatre
Roman Theatre
Medieval Theatre
Italian Renaissance Theatre
English Theatre to 1642
100
Meaning, “machine of the gods,” which a large crane used to hoist actors in harnesses into the air, allowing them to represent gods. It has come to describe any weak, contrived ending.
What is deus ex machina?
100
Meaning great sea battle, huge affairs involving actual warships and tens of thousands of soldiers.
What is naumachia?
100
Meaning used in the sacraments, these were performed inside the monastery, spoken in Latin, and used music and chants throughout.
What is liturgical drama?
100
The first recorded performance of a commedia troupe was in this year.
What is 1568?
100
A popular actor who created Hamlet, Lear, and most of Shakespeare’ s great leading male roles.
Who is Richard Burbage?
200
Meaning “goat song,” these pieces consisted of a chorus performing a dithyramb around a goat that was later sacrificed to the gods.
What is tragodia?
200
A governmental group which exercised considerable control over the public affairs of Rome.
What is the optimate?
200
The entrance to the Hell wagon, which was almost always represented by the head of a great beast that seemed to swallow those who entered.
What is the Hell Mouth?
200
Usually Pantalone's friend, this character was a scholar, who was often tricked by others.
Who is Dottore?
200
One of Shakespeare's three types of plays, these dramatize the struggles of past English sovereigns. They also give detailed accounts of the wars and intrigues of English history, which Shakespeare drew from Hollingshed’ s historical texts of the time.
What are histories?
300
Plays that were shorter than the tragedies, and comic in nature, often satirizing mythology with indecent language.
What are satyr plays?
300
This empire had at least two theatres of the classic Roman type, though they were used mostly for pantomime rather than formal drama. Their center of entertainment and public forum was the Hippodrome.
What is the Byzatine Empire?
300
This group welcomed the medieval theatrical structure, mainly because they did not seek cause-and-effect relationships in life, but instead preferred to believe that events happened because they were the will of God.
Who are the medieval people?
300
The oldest surviving Renaissance theatre.
What is Teatro Olympico?
300
In the 1580’ s, a group of young writers began working for the emerging professional acting troupes. These men changed the face of theatre with their complex original works.
Who are the University Wits?
400
A former soldier who fought at Marathon, who has 7 surviving plays, including the only surviving Greek trilogy, collectively called The Oresteia. He is credited for introducing the second actor
Who is Aeschylus?
400
All of his plays were based on lesser known New Comedies, but since none of the original Greek plays survive it is impossible to determine the extent of his originality. He was a master of many comedic forms, but is best known for his wild farces.
Who is Plautus?
400
The two types of special effects that were used in medieval theatre.
What are flying and trapdoors?
400
In his work, The Divine Comedy, a fictionalized work based on theological subjects, this writer showed the dark side to the afterlife, giving power to the idea of humanism.
Who is Dante?
400
A small booklet containing only an actor's lines and three-word cue lines.
What are sides?
500
Greek for “dancing place,” this is the round, approximately sixty-six feet area where the performance took place.
What is the orchestra?
500
The plots of his plays were more complex than those of Plautus. His works, show a penchant for two separate plots that allowed him to show contrast in human behavior.
Who is Terrence?
500
The year that Charlemagne was appointed emperor by the Pope.
What is 800 AD?
500
Meaning, “company of professional players,” the generic term used to describe all Italian acting groups. Though there were several categories, the most common was improvised comedy, where they would make up their plays as they performed.
What is comedia dell'arte?
500
One of the more popular troupes of the time, headed by actor Edward Alleyn, and worked most closely with Marlowe.
Who are The Admiral's Men?
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