Theatre History Exam Review 2 PDF

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Here are the exam notes from Dr. Inga Meir in the theatre department. I received an A on my exam. ...

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Theatre History Exam 2 Review

Regularis Concordia commentary on Quem Quaeritus, how we know what it is; written by a Ethelwold, a bishop, in latin -intended to establish clear goals and rules of conduct and procedure for monasteries The Second Shepards Play cycle drama, in Townley- Wakefield Cycle -written in the vernacular and in verse and is filled with anachronisms. The shepherds are characters out of the middle ages Castle of Perseverance 15th century morality play; earliest known full length play; theatre in the round Everyman 15th century popular example of morality play; written by unknown The Prince by Machiavelli, discussed in the book how to be a good ruler; ruthless; whatever is necessary/practical La Mandragola Shows like this are rarely revived because of their similar plotlines and are of little interest. "Mandrake," this play depicts a gullible husband hoodwinked by his wife and his lover, by Machiavelli De Architectura -is published in 1486 10 volume set on how to do good roman architecture; by Vitruvius; found after fall of Constantinople during Italian Renaissance and used as model for theatre spaces La Cassaria by Ariostio's ; first show to use perspective painting as scenic backdrop, in court performance Archictura book written by Sebiastiano Serlio; early methods for creating perspective settings Poetics Libri Septem written. by Julius Caesar Scaliger in 1525, written in Latin; comprehensive attempt to standardise literary form & content by relating Aristotle's poetics to existing literary tradition based on Latin writers, especially Horace's Art of Poetry Poetica d'Aristotele vulgarizzata e sposata written by Castelvetro, first translation & commentary on Aristotle in Italian; aka "Aristotle's Poetics Translated into the Vernacular and Explicated" Passion Play

-modern commentary on morality plays, combines elements of Greek and Medieval theatre, and lots of symbols -Cycle play -Various characters even though they are playing different people share some of the same themes feudalism lords/counts > vassals > peasants/serfs liturgical drama any religious drama, usually sung or chanted, that relates to the bible, and is in latin in a church sanctuary. highly developed in medieval period Quem quaeritis trope short trope added to easter service around 925; opening lines translate as "whom do you seek?" That line & the responses are cited as the beginning of religious lit. drama in Middle Ages mansions medieval scenic uit, often presented as individ house or local plateas in medieval theatre, unlocalised playing area religious vernacular drama religious plays written in the common language so that normal people can understand, not for religious elite anymore mystery plays Also called cycle plays. Short medieval dramas presented in western europe and england, based on events of the old and new testaments. Many such plays were organized into historical cycles that told the story of human history from the creation of doomsday. feast of Corpus Christi Roman Rite liturgical solemnity celebrating the real presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ; cycle plays done during this time English Cycle Dramas produced every 2 years, huge deal, aka mystery plays, special towns, guilds facilitate show (eg Jesus played by genuine carpenter), simple plays but with special effects, 2 types of staging: processional & stationery n-town cycle oldest English cycle drama york cycle 1477 Townley Wakefield cycle gives us second shepherds play pageant masters in the middle ages, a professional SM who oversaw production of cycle of mystery plays secrets

in medieval theatre, special effects morality plays medieval drama designed to teach a lesson; characters allegorical & rep. virtues or faults, ie good deeds, friendship, or avarice. most famous: Everyman. Pre-Reformation: very Catholic. Reformation made these plays more protestant based; focus on idea of redemption; influence on European theatre (Shakespeare) linked to station dramas station dramas drama in which protag. confronts series on crises in series of scenes, analogous to Christ's journey through the "stations of the cross." used to describe medieval morality plays & 20th century expressionist dramas

farce influenced by Feast of Fools & Boy of Bishop; festivals were pagan practices; mocks those in power; inverts status quo. one of major genres of drama, sometimes regarded as subclass of comedy; it aims to entertain & provoke laughter, & humor is result primarily of physical activity interludes in medieval England, short dramatic pieces usually presented between courses of a banquet commedia dell'arte 1550-1700; form of comic theatre, originating in Italy in 16th cent., in which dialogue was improvised around loose scenario involving set of stock characters, each with distinctive costume and name sacra rappresentazioni "Sacred Representation." Italian religious dramas in medieval style; based on biblical stories & lives of saints passion plays The Passion Play or Easter pageant is a dramatic presentation depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ: his trial, suffering and death. It is a traditional part of Lent in several Christian denominations, particularly in Catholic tradition. intermezzi in Italian Renaissance, entertainments performed between acts of operas/ full length plays. short, based on mythology, connected to play pastorals idealised dramatisation of rural life, often including mythological creatures, popular during Italian Renaissance. similar to Greek satyr plays, but not as bawdy. "The Mandrake" most famous opera

distinctly Italian art form; comes about b/c of reemergence of Greek theatre; first just for aristocracy, then became very popular; drew from Greek play; 1600: opera spreads across Europe; still popular today libretto (opera part) the text of an opera arias (opera part) solo sung recitative (opera part) sung dialogue lazzi in commedia dell'arte, comic pieces of business repeatedly used by characters perspective drawing illusion of depth in painting; introduced into scene design in Italian Renaissance -used for a court performance

pole and chariot Giacomo Torelli's mechanized means of changing sets made up of flat wings glories in Italian Renaissance, flying machines used for special effects neoclassicism developed by Italian Renaissance theorists, these prescriptive rules for drama were inaccurately said to be based on Greek and Roman drama/criticism, among the ideals were the unities, decoum, verisimilitude, ; blame Lodovico Castelvetro Hrosvitha mysterious upbringing; noble birth? sent to Benedict Convent at Gangersheim; joined the nunnery at 25 as a canoness; influenced by church fathers and Terence; took from Horace & Virgil; wrote 5 significant works < Do we need to know the names of them??? > created own verse; meant for works to be read, not performed, show poverty of time; earliest known woman playwright; believed she was divinely inspired; "had the strength of a man in her heart;" works testament to women & Christianity at the time; offers women alternative to violence Niccolò Machiavelli Italian Renaissance writer; wrote The Prince Dante Alighierii Italian Renaissance writer; composed first important literary work written not in latin but in the vernacular; wrote The Divine Comedy (inspired by Virgil) Boccaccio Italian Renaissance writer; collection of ribald tales, the deCameron the Medicis

wealthy family or merchant princes in Florence during Renaissance who were art patrons; mocked in "La Mandragora" Allesandro Scarlatti established supremacy of the aria in opera I Gelotti 1st famous commedia dell'arte troupe; "Company of Jealous Ones;" motto: "we are jealous of attaining virtue, fame, and honour;" famous members were Flaminio Scala, Francesco Andreini, Isabella Andreini

Sebastiano Serlio -painter and designer Italian architect; helped introduce perspective into scenic painting; believed there should be 3 settings for drama: tragic, comedic, pastoral; series of angled wings that looked 3D; painted backdrop to close set; raked stage; books became basic text for architecture and stage design Giacomo Torelli invented pole-and-chariot system, called great wizard; lived in france, which adopted his innovations; -known for the revolving stage -Known for constructing theatrical equipment Caesar Scaliger wrote Poetics Libri Septem; influential dramatic critic of Italian renaissance; consolidated decorum and verisimilitude; thought purpose of drama as to teach move and delight Lodovico Castelvetro wrote "Poetica d'Aristotile Vulgarizzata e Sposta"; theatre to please ignorant multitude greater emphasis on theatrical experience than literary value of drama; formulations of unities of time place and action first cornerstone of Neoclassicism -big fan of aristotle -makes theatre into a set of rules -doesn’t want supernatural characters -Can only take in one place, 24hrs, one central story, characters should only have true to their life -you can’t mix comedy and tragedy processional stages in the middle ages, a form of staging popular in england & spain. thought there is much debate on how it worked, apparently each mystery play was set up on a wagon that moved from locale to locale w/in a town, so that a play would be presented separately at each stop - each audience area - along its route stationary stages,

in the middle aged, a form of staging popular on european continent. a series of sm scenic mansions were set up side by side, usually in conjunction with a large platform stage, so that all the plays of a cycle could be performed in one location Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza -oldest italian theatre; model of roman theatre in door -Designed by Andrea Palladio, but died in 1580 -Completed by Vincenzo Scamozzi in 1584 -First production in 1585 was Oedipus The Theatre at Sabbioneta -mini version of Olimpico; first inkling of a proscenium -Completed in 1588 by Vincenzo Scamozzi -A smaller and intimate version of teatro olimpico and seats 250 -First step that we have towards a proscenium Teatro Farnese in Parma -first actual proscenium theatre -designed by Giovanni Battista Aleotti in completed in 1618 Essay Question: What does this have to do with actual passion plays?...