Transcript Greek Drama
Greek Drama Drama was born in ancient Greece! • 600s B.C. - Greeks were giving choral performances of dancing and singing • Performances at festivals honoring Dionysus • Later they held drama contests to honor him Thespis (534 B. C.) • Defined theater – art of acting a part on stage – dramatic impersonation of another character than yourself • Uncertain whether he was a playwright, an actor, or a priest • “Thespian” term comes from his name Description of Greek Theater • Took place in large hillside amphitheaters – held 20, 000 people!! • Players included a chorus and their leader • Lines were chanted • Chorus performed in an “orchestra”, not on a raised platform Greek Theater (continued) • Masks used to represent characters • High-soled boots worn to add height • Both of these limited movement Greek Theater Most Important Era (400s B.C.) • Tragedies performed as part of a civic celebration called the City Dionysia • Festival lasted several days • Prizes given for best tragedy, comedy, acting, and choral singing Theater of Dionysus • Located on slope below the Acropolis in Athens • Seated 14,000 • Circular acting area called orchestra • Skene (stage house) Greek Tragedy • Nearly all surviving tragedies are based on myth • Character’s struggle against hostile forces ended in defeat and ultimately in death • A series of dramatic episodes separated by choral odes (mini-songs). • Episodes performed by a few actors - never more than 3 on stage Greek Drama (continued) • Wore masks to indicate the nature of the characters played. • Men played women’s roles • Same actor appeared in several parts. • Of the hundreds of Greek tragedies written, fewer than 35 survive. Three Playwrights • Aeschylus – Most famous for Oresteia – Introduced concept of second actor – Expanded possibilities for plot Sophocles • Innovation of the third actor • Most famous for Oedipus Rex Euripides • Created the ultimate form of drama • Far more naturalistic or human approach in his works • Showed interest in psychology through portraits of women Euripides (continued) • Medea is most famous work – Describes how a mother kills her children to gain revenge against their father Roman Theater • Borrowed extensively from Greeks • Latin word “ludus” – play • Chiefly important because it influenced Renaissance playwrights • Works of only one author left – Lucius Annaeus Seneca – 5 act form -- Elaborate language – Revenge as the main idea of the play – Confidant Roman Comedy • Typical plot – misunderstandings – Mistaken identity – Free-spending sons deceiving their fathers Gradual decline – actors excommunicated -- rising power of church -- invasions by barbarian tribes Medieval Drama • Death of theater after fall of Roman Empire • Kept alive only by street players, jugglers, acrobats, and animal trainers Medieval Churches • Although against theater during Roman Empire, churches are most responsible for bringing theater back • Church needed to establish itself in the community – Began using drama to tell stories about religious holidays Liturgical Drama • Rebirth of drama through brief plays acted by priests as part of the liturgy (worship service) • The Resurrection of Christ was first event dramatized Mystery Plays • Written in verse and taught Christian doctrine – Presented Biblical characters as if they lived in medieval times Mystery Plays (continued) • Setting for play on pageant wagon • Wagon drawn through city to various places – Actors performed on platform outside wagon Miracle Plays • Based on lives of saints rather than scripture • Became secular after short period of time Morality Plays • Relgious performed “speeches” • Taught meanings of Biblical passages other than literal ones • Changed into plays called interludes – Interludes were created strictly for entertainment Renaissance Drama (Italy) • Strictly applied Aristotle’s rules • Spectacular musicals • Intermezzo – music and lively entertainment between acts • 16th century - Opera emerges • 17th century – Commedia dell’arte – Comedy and improv Renaissance Drama • Pastoral drama – Set in the country – Depicted romantic affairs of rustic people, usually shepherds and shepherdesses Renaissance Drama (England) • Not bound by rules • Elements of farce, morality, disregard for time and place • Christopher Marlowe – Development of blank verse England Performances • Began early afternoon; ended just before dusk • Women never on stage; parts played by boys • Attended by all classes of society • Refreshments sold during performances • Audience in a “holiday” mood William Shakespeare • Father of modern drama • Creator of the Globe Theater Shakespeare (Continued) • • • • Wrote tragedies, comedies, etc. Unified plot Strong characters and imagery Perfection with verse form and language – Captured the spirit of ordinary speech – Gave special dignity to characters/situations The Globe Theater • One of four major theaters in England – the other three – Swan, Rose, Hope • Open-air octagonal amphitheater • Seated 3,000 • 3 stories high • Original burned down; was reconstructed before Shakespeare’s death Congratulations!!! You have completed the lecture on the history of theater!!!