Theater History
Alright now would be a good time to
take notes
No really, this will for sure be on
a test…soon.
Please?
Medieval and
Renaissance
Theater
“Oh, how fine it is to know a thing or two.”
-Moliere
Classical Theater (Greek & Roman theater)
in its form and function pretty much died
out in the Dark Ages - Theater needed to
be reinvented…
Medieval Theater
MYSTERY CIRCLES AND PAGEANTS
You might want to take note of this picture as I’m pretty sure you will be
doing something very similar, very soon.
Medieval Theater
Religion & Ritual: Just as in Classical Theater,
Medieval Theater began in the church as
ceremony - usually in the form of chanting
Music: Most original Medieval dramas had a lot of
music in it (Gregorian chant) some were all music
Pageant: a raised wagon platform that carried
actors who were acting out a section of a story.
Mystery Cycle: a group of pageant wagons put
together to form a long story, usually from the Bible
Pageant Plays
Style: Despite their religious content these plays
were performed in a lively, energetic and
entertaining fashion. Often times sections of the
story would be left out to make sure that the
energy and life in the story would be felt
throughout the performance
Interlude: This was a small break in the story to
perform a sketch and to give the actors in the
pageant a break. These interludes were wildly
funny and filled with physical comedy.
“Sketch vs. Skit”
What’s the difference?
The Chester Mystery Circle (1375)
Fall of Lucifer
Entry into Jerusalem
Creation and Fall
Betrayal of Christ
Noah’s Flood
Passion
Lot, Abraham, & Isaac
Crucifixion
Nativity
Harrowing of Hell
Shepherds
Ressurection
Three Kings
Ascention
Lazarus
Heaven
Storytelling
•What began as simply reciting the story turned
into an exciting dramatic presentation
•It was of the utmost importance not simply that the
words were said - but HOW they were said
•Focus became on speaking skills and presentation
STORYTELLING IS THE ART - VOICE IS THE TOOL
Intonation - High or low sounds in the voice
Articulation - How clearly you speak
Resonation - Is your voice able to be heard?
“DAY OF THE READER” Example
Renaissance Theater
THE RENAISSANCE THEATRE SPACE
YOU DO NOT NEED TO COPY THIS DOWN JUST
UNDERSTAND THAT AT THIS POINT THE THEATRE
SPACE MOVES INDOORS - THAT WILL BE ON THE
TEST…I PROMISE.
THE RENAISSANCE THEATRE
Buildings: Ornate architecture with great
columns and intricate arches and sculptures.
Sets & Backdrops: It was common for famous
painters to come and paint sets. Raphael was said
to have painted several backdrops for a
production.
Perspective: This was a tool used, for the first time
during this time period, to indicate things that
were closer and things that were further away in
distance
Types of Renaissance Theater
Intermizzi
•A show combining music, amazing spectacle, and
great elaborate sets
•Mythological events portrayed in tableau
“tableau” - French for posed position “picture”
Opera Seria
•Beginnings of today’s opera
•Some spoken word - mostly music
FIRST APPEARANCE OF TODAY’S ORCHESTRA PIT
Types of Renaissance Theater
Commedia dell’ Arte
•Translated means “theatre of the professional
artist” lightness, and is fun
•Encourages inventiveness,
•Improvisation around the same general plot with
stock characters but no fixed script or dialogue
•Dates back to 1570
•Plays stock characters were well identified by their
costumes, colors, and the masks they wore.
•The word “zany” comes from this art form and is
used to describe the servant characters from this
genre of theater
Types of Commedia dell’ Arte Characters
Pantalone: Old man, Columbine’s father or husband
Il Dottore: Pedant, know-it-all
Il Capitano: Swash-buckling soldier, braggart
Arlecchino: Comic servant, Columbine’s lover
Pulcinella: Comic servant, humped-back, crooked nose
Columbine: Female maid servant, Arlecchino’s lover
Pedrolino: Comic servant, clown
Mezitino: Comic male servant
Scapino: Comic male servant, crafty, quick footed
Scaramuccia: Comic servant