Ch 1
The origins of theatre
What is myth and ritual?
This is worn over the face of all actors
What are masks
Give two examples of Roman variety entertainment.
Name one “luxury” of Roman Theatre Architecture.
Chariot Races, Theatrical Performances, Beast Hunts, Gladiator Combat, Executions
Covered roof, plumbing, cooling system
Why are most medieval artists anonymous?
God got all credit because he created everything
Who did Shakespeare defiantly NOT kill *wink*
Christopher Marlowe
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic society?
Static societies stick to the status quo and never surpass ritual while dynamic theater moves towards change and becomes theater.
The ideal spectator
Who is the Greek Chorus?
To teach and please
The first female dramatist
Who is Hrosvitha?
In 1642, what religious group caused Parliament the close down theaters?
Puritans
What started the Trojan War? What finished it?
The Trojan war was started by the kidnapping of Helen of Sparta by Paris of Troy. It ended by Athena helping the Greeks build a large wooden horse and sneaking into Troy. At nightfall, the Greeks attacked Troy and ending the war.
What was the City of Dionysian Festival
Showcase Athenian wealth and culture
Commemoration of Dionysus
Home of theatre
a festival in spring
What are the six parts of every drama
plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle
What is a Pageant Master? Name at least two of their duties.
Modern day Stage Manager
Oversees construction of stage, scenery, machines, and seating for audience
Casts and rehearses actors
Discipline actors with fines
Occasionally ACTS in shows
Hires “box office” workers
Addresses the audience before, during and after the show
A group of educated men who wrote for the public stage in the 1580s
What is the University Wits?
***Bridged the gap between the learned and popular audiences
***Blended classical and medieval styles and established foundations that Shakespeare and his contemporaries would build upon
Story preformed every year in Ancient Egypt
What is Orsis?
Who is Thespis
Who is A
Daddy tragedy
Daddy Comedy
List 2 reasons Theatre “died” after Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453. Another way to think about this question? List 2 ways in which Islamic faith made Theatre impossible.
Christians targeted theatre for its association with pagan gods and the obscenity of mimes
mimes and actors are banned
Humans could not “imitate” because Allah was the sole creator of life
– Acting becomes a mortal sin
Islamic art was only to be decorative
Describe Heaven, Hell, and Earth
Heaven:
● God and the Angels would be in the Heaven side of the stage.
● Heaven side of the stage would be decorated in cotton, to represent clouds.
Earth:
● Earth would be in the middle in between Heaven and Hell
Hell:
● Would be red
● Contained the “Hellmouth”
● Hellmouth=Large fire breathing monster that would spew out demons/devils.
Name two things Queen Elizabeth I did to help theater
Crown gained control of Elizabethan Theatre
Brought order to Theatrical chaos
Banned all religious plays in 1559
Made local officials responsible for licensing all public performances in their local area – Master of Revels gives patents out to do so
created legislation that distinguished legitimate actors from wandering vagabonds (vagrancy was made illegal)
What are some major themes from AGAMEMNON?
Revenge, Justice, War, Fate and the Gods, Gender roles, ect.
Define Hubris and its relevance to Oedipus
Hubris is the presence of arrogance and self righteousness
1) Divided into 5 episodes separated by chorus
interludes
2) Used elaborate speeches, soliloquies, asides
and confidantes
3) Pithy proverbial generalizations about human
condition to emphasize moral points
4) Preoccupation with magic, death and the
human and superhuman worlds
5) Characters driven to doom by a single passion
6) Uses “sensational deeds” to illustrate evils of
What is the HUGE difference between Liturgical Drama and Secular Drama? The abandonment of _________________ for the vernacular was one of the most important factors in popularizing secular drama, and separating it from liturgical.
Liturgical Drama is religious drama and Secular Drama is any none religious drama.
Latin
Name two duties of the Master of Revels
Created an all star theatre company to perform for the Queen and monopolize performing within the city of London = The Queen’s Men
Licensed ALL plays, playhouses, and all acting companies
Censored unsuitable or offensive material
Kept detailed written records of everything revolving around the plays of the time (we know a lot about the Elizabethan theatre from the accounts of the Master of Revels)
Auditioned acting troupes and selected who would perform and which plays they would be allowed to produce (sometimes deleted lines, passages, or modified entire scenes)