CE THEA 1013
Review- Term 1
Nature of Theatre
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Theatre achieved its own distinct identity 2500 years ago
There are three basic elements required to qualify as ‘theatre’
o What is performed: the script, scenario, or plan
o The performance itself: presentation of the production
o The audience: immediate feedback
Remember “A performs B for C”= theatrical production
Discuss prior censorship vs. self censorship
Popular culture vs. elitist culture
Theatre provides something that TV and film do not: interactive relationship between the performers
and the audience is unique to theatre.
Performance, Audience and Critic
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Theatre cannot exist without audiences- what are some ways that theatre companies can
attract new younger audiences to their performances?
Discuss the role of the critic?
Three basic problems that confront the critic:
o Understanding- what is the director trying to achieve/ communicate/ relate?
o Effectiveness- how successful is the director in this?
o Ultimate worth- how valuable was the experience?
PlayscriptAristotle laid out the standard form for plot structure- draw it here:
Basic forms of drama include comedy, tragedy, melodrama, etc. What are the defining characteristics of
each form?
Festival TheatreAncient Greece- Dionysian Festival (what was its original purpose?)
Thespis- why is he significant?
The three major playwrights of ancient Greece are:
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AeschylusSophoclesEuripides
Know the parts of an ancient Greek theatre, be able to label various elements on a drawing.
CE THEA 1013
Review- Term 1
Sophocles & “Oedipus Rex”- know the plot and main characters, outcome, etc…
Deus ex machina- what was it literally in Greek theatre, and what is a modern day example of it?
Greek performers: actors, chorus, musicians, supernumeraries (know their purpose and their roles- use
Oedipus as an example if necessary)
Roman theatre experience- how did it differ from the Greek theatre traditions?
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Violence onstage
Chariot races
Spectacular, more important than dramatic structure, form
The Fall of Rome ushered in the Dark Ages- no more drama until it was revived in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Theatre
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Revived by whom? For what purpose?
Where was it performed? (more than one venue)
Describe the three types of plays that fall under the “Passion Play” category
o Miracleo Mysteryo Morality“Everyman”- Describe the basic plot, and which category it belongs to.
What is a pageant wagon?
RenaissanceWhat does ‘renaissance’ mean?
How did theatrical productions move away from the control of the church?
Paying public, companies formed under the protection of a sponsor, conventions of Elizabethan Theatre.
Shakespeare; professional theatre companies in Elizabethan England
Globe Theater; designated performance spaces
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Costumes
Lighting
Set design
Acting Companies- who was in them, what were their various positions, etc
Shakespeare & “Much Ado About Nothing”- plot, main characters, discuss setting of the production we
watched in class
CE THEA 1013
Review- Term 1
Commedia Dell ‘ArteWhere, when, what is it? How does improv fit into Commedia plots?
Stock characters diagram- who are they? What are ‘lazzi’? masked vs unmasked. Gramalot?
Italian influence on set designs: proscenium, back drops, wings, forced perspective painting, etc…
French Influence
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Neoclassicism- what is it? Why? Was it popular?
Moliere- who was he? What is his background and influence on French theatre?
Moliere & “Tartuffe”- plot, main characters, setting, theme, how does it relate to Commedia?
Romanticism to Realism (1800-1850s)Romanticism
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Reaction against restraints of Neo-classicism.
Focused on emotions, sentiment, imagination
God created everything, people are innately good.
Embraced mystery and supernatural
Revered an unspoiled, pure, natural state of the world
Melodrama
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Pop-culture application of romanticism- most popular of 19th C.
Virtuous heroine, persecuted by villain, rescued from major difficulties by a stalwart hero.
Elaborate stage spectacles: earthquakes, fires, explosions, trains, etc
Huge musical element
Industrial Revolution and the movement of people from rural to urban areas
Railroads enabled theatre to tour- more accessible to more people
Realism
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Influenced by scientific advances
o Darwin: evolution, heredity and environment influence people more than moral code
o Freud: self-preservation and procreation drive human instinct, not God
Visual accuracy in costumes, scenery becomes more important
Subjects include: poverty, disease, prostitution, illegitimacy, divorce
Audience watches actors living their lives on stage, “4th wall”
Naturalism
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More extreme version of Realism- pushed it further
CE THEA 1013
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
Review- Term 1
“slice of life” theatre- a real fly on a real piece of meat
Not as popular- too extreme for most tastes
Henrik Ibsen, “A Doll’s House”- plot, main characters, settings, themes, reactions from the public
Emergence of a Director- more complicated storylines, sets and costumes more accurate, more special
effects, need for a unifying vision
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Richard Wagner
o Democratic configuration of theatre seating
o Darkened auditorium
o “unity of production”- one person’s artistic vision
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
o Complete control of all aspects; designed sets, costumes, props etc
o Long rehearsal periods, precise staging,
o Detailed staging to create beautiful stage pictures
o Known for convincing crowd scenes- not people off the streets
Independent Theatre Movement- a way around the censors, smaller venues, private homes, more
experimental plays, etc
Konstantin Stanislavsky- Moscow Art Theatre; Method Acting vs classically trained
Important People to Know
Adolphe Appia- Swiss (1862-1928)
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3-dim sets for 3-dim actors; levels, ramps, stairs- never a flat stage floor
Stage lighting; different angles and directions, colors influence mood & emotion
Spotlights used for first time
Gordon Craig- English (1872-1966)
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Director is master artist, unifying force
Liked simplicity in scenery, costumes, lighting, not elaborate sets etc
Max Reinhardt- German (1872-1943)
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Each production is unique, a new challenge, demands a unique stylistic solution
Theatre history is important to staging
o Greek plays in a circus (most like ancient theatres)
o Passion plays in a cathedral or on a pageant wagon
o 18th C plays in an 18th C palace, etc
Director’s Choice, his vision, final say in every aspect- works with other designers, but the final
decision is with the director