Greeks/Romans
What did Greek Theater celebrate?
It was created to celebrate religious festivals.
Where were the vernacular performances held in medieval times?
In the town square on a wagon.
What was created to make more space on stage?
The apron (very front of the stage, like a semi circle)
After theaters shut down in England, what country did the actors flee to?
France
What were the traditional Melodrama stock characters?
Villain, Hero, Heroine, Bumbling Side-Kick, Old Person
What was so different about the Roman audiences?
They were rude, loud and obnoxious.
Name the three types of vernacular dramas.
Mystery, Miracle and Morality.
What two religions did England swing between in the 16th century?
Catholicism and Protestantism.
What was the point of theater in the 17th century?
To create a spectacle with the stage, costumes and sets.
Whose method of acting is still used today?
Konstatin Stanislavski
Name two examples of the Roman code that actors used for audiences to know what character they are playing.
Black Wig: Young Man
Red Wig: Slave
Yellow Robe: Young Woman
Yellow Tassel: God
What part of the stage did Italy develop that we still use today?
The Proscenium or picture frame.
How did Shakespeare write his characters differently?
He made them more human, with both positive and negative characteristics.
Why was David Garrick the best actor of that time?
He emphasized a more natural form of speaking and acting that mimicked real life.
Why was Melodrama created?
The poor quality of lighting and advances in set design lead to emphasized action and spectacle, not acting. ie. Melodrama
Why are actors also known as thespians?
Because Thespis created the first "actor" who broke away from the chorus.
What are two examples of the stock characters used in Commedia dell'Arte?
Pantalone- Elderly merchant
Arlecchino- trouble maker servant
Flavio- The Lover
Why was theater considered "dangerous"?
It was seen as lazy, black plague was running rampant, associated with a bad part of town, ladies of the night, etc.
What did David Garrick "banish"?
The audience from the stage. He then influenced the actors to perform among the furnishings and scenery.
A theater movement that believed life had no meaning and that there is no God.
How did Sophocles influence Greek theater?
He created more dialogue between characters by using less of the chorus.
What was the new development in the script that Commedia dell'Arte implemented?
Improvised dialogue, "scenarios", just an outline of the plot, few props and no sets.
Moving on from religious themes, what were plays now being written about?
In this time, what did pantomime promote?
The development of spectacular staging, slapstick and special effects.
How did the movement of Realism change the audiences experience?
It brought real life to the stage, as if the audience was watching in, spying on the actors through a "4th wall".