Historical Background
The 18th Century was also known as which better day in age?
The Age of Enlightenment
France’s similar version that included elements of commedia and pantomime-like entertainment; they held signs on stage and spectators often sang the dialogue
Comic Opera
Strum und Drang, or “storm and stress” movement in which dramatists rejected dramatic rules using episodic structure, mixing genres, and presenting violence onstage is from what country?
Germany
What theatre personnel emerged from melodramatic theatre?
Director
Which Queen issued a proclamation limiting dramatic subject matter in England?
Elizabeth I
Monarchs that believed in religious tolerance and wanted to reform their societies for the good of the people were called what?
Enlightened Despots
A three act play with five or more songs per act.
Burletta
In this country, playwrights tried to circumvent the law by opening unlicensed playhouses and introduced popular entertainment forms not regulated by the statute.
England
What do all melodramas have?
Which modern day musical was based off of the people and events of the Age of Enlightenment?
Hamilton
How did more traditional rulers believe that their power should be treated by the commonwealth?
Their power was God-given and not to be questioned.
Comedies of manners, satirize social conventions and norms: reaffirms middle class morality
Sentimental Comedy
This country had in place a law called the Licensing Act, which is the restriction of presentation of drama to only the Drury Land and Covent Garden theatres and made the lord chamberlain responsible for licensing plays.
England
Name 3 of the major characters that are key elements of melodrama.
Hero, Villain, Heroine, Sidekick, Mentor
How did the German government control theatrical presentations?
Withholding financial support
The early 18th century sparked an increase in what three key innovations?
Mercantilism, International Trade, and Manufacturing.
“Middle class” tragedy: ignored the neoclassical requirement of royal protagonists and drew tragic heroes and heroines from the emerging middle class.
Bourgeois Theatre
What country's form of theatre featured saccharine, overwrought emotions that often dealt with virtuous characters who were threatened by serious misfortune, but lived happily ever after.
France
What is the etymology (origin of words) of melodrama?
Melo - melody
Drama - drama
Music Drama
The most famous play in melodramatic theatre.
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Wars were fought over what kind of matters?
Political and economic
Parody of Italian Opera; no sung dialogue or recitative. Spoken dialogue alternated with songs set to popular contemporary melodies with characters drawn from middle and lower classes. Social and political satires
Ballad Opera
This country rebelled against the neoclassical ideas and questioned the clear-cut morality of sentimental comedy and bourgeois tragedy.
Germany
In what country did melodrama originate and why?
France, the people loved music and theatre so they combined it to cater to audience preference.
The Age of Enlightenment sparked intercontinental turmoil and was the primary cause for which two major wars?
French and American Revolutions