The comedy of
manners
The comedy of manners
1. Changes in the theatre
Theatres were made legal by Charles II after 1660
A great change in
The structure of theatres
Acting
The audience
Only Connect ... New Directions
Style of plays
The comedy of manners
2. The structure of the theatre
The Elizabethan
Playhouse
The Restoration
Playhouse
• Unroofed
•
Roofed
• Lit by day daylight
•
Artificially lit with candles
• No curtain
•
A drop curtain
• Absence of any scenery
•
Painted movable scenery
•
Footlights
effects
Only Connect ... New Directions
The comedy of manners
3. Acting
Elizabethan
Age
Restoration
Age
• Female roles  played by
boys
• Actors linked by cooperative
sharing bonds
• First professional actresses
• Actors and actresses tied to
the theatre by a contract
• Both actors and actresses
became public personalities
Only Connect ... New Directions
The comedy of manners
4. Themes and characters
• Marriages were rebellious and without love
• Sexual desires and infidelity
• Vices and follies of the upper class
Gullible husbands cheated by their wives 
“Fop” / “gallant” or ‘fortunate’ lover
Only Connect ... New Directions
The comedy of manners
5. The Elizabethan and the
Restoration theatre
Elizabethan
Theatre
Restoration
Theatre
Main themes
• Universal
themes
• Analysis of a
contradictory
reality
• Vices and follies
of the uppermiddle class
Characters
• Kings, princes,
warriors
• Ordinary people
Audience
• Drawn from all
social classes
• Literate upper
classes
Only Connect ... New Directions
The comedy of manners
6. Style
Elizabethan drama
Restoration drama
• Poetry
• Prose
• Elevated tone
• Formal, witty, satirical
language
• Solemn, lofty language
Only Connect ... New Directions