Drama was born out of the dance ceremonies of primitive people. Dances taught tribes customs to boys approaching manhood, war dances, story dances, and religious dances to pacify the unseen spirits the tribes believed controlled the world. The shaman (witch doctor) prayed, chanted, and danced in an attempt to drive away evil spirits.
Egyptians were the first people whose rituals took a form similar to out idea of a play. Dramas were written in hieroglyphics on the walls of the pyramids. Plays were written for important events such as the coronation of a new pharaoh. Plays were enacted by priests.
Two biblical books read as dramatic literature: ◦ The Song of Solomon ◦ The Book of Job
Originated in ritual rites that paid homage to Dionysus, god of wine, fertility, and theatre. Dithyrambs were sung in honor of Dionysus by choral groups Tragedy (goat song) was developed out of these dithyrambic rituals WQ WQ
A festival of tragedies held in March Prizes were awarded for the best series of plays Both men and women attended, although acting was restricted to men Lasted 5-6 days Final 3 days were reserved for the play contests Each day a different dramatist presented 3 tragedies and a satire.
Performed outdoors Amphitheater style theatres seated up to 20,000, with the first row reserved for dignitaries. Orchestra – acting area Skene – backstage area Parados – passageway used as an enterance for the chorus Proskenion - platform in front of the skene Paraskenia – wings on the side of the proskenion
Drama was rhetorical, containing more speech than action. Actors wore masks that denoted character and projected the voice Mantle – a cloak worn as part of costume Deus ex machina – god in the machine – mechanical crane used for raising and lowering gods
First playwright to win City Dionysia Introduced the chorus leader, who became the first actor. First to use masks It is from his name that thespian is derrived
B.C The Father of Tragedy Won first prize in City Dionysia 13 times Invented the trilogy Added a second actor Reduced the chorus from 50 to 12 Loved spectacle Wrote 90 plays, but only 7 survive Oresteia trilogy is the most enduring
B.C. Treasurer of Athens Wrote more than 100 scripts, 7 survived Won 18 Dionysia festivals Introduced the third actor Changed the chorus to 15 his plays are considered the essence of great Greek drama Best known plays: Electra, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone
B.C. Plays emphasize psychological motivations and social consciousness, emphasizing the plight of women and the problem of the outsider First to humanize drama with household details and events that appealed to the emotions Best known plays: Medea and Alcestis
B.C. Considered the finest comic writer of ancient Greece Wrote about public life Pest known plays: The Birds, The Frogs, and The CloudsMenander B.C. Comedic writer Wrote about private life Plays were copied extensively by Romans
When Rome invaded Greece, they took great interest in Greek literature and art, adapting Greek plays Audiences were lower class, so comedies and slapsticks were more popular. Playhouses were portable wooden platforms until Roman leaders Pompey and Caesar built playhouses Claque – a person/group hired to applaud at a performance
Seneca ◦ 4 B.C. – 65 A.D. ◦ Plays are bombastic and gory closet dramas (more suited to reading than performance) Plautus ◦ B.C. ◦ Plays served as a pattern for later writers including Shakespeare and Moliere Plays were eventually overshadowed by spectacle events. When Rome fell in 475 A.D. the Christian church banned all theatrical activity.
2000 B.C. Interpretive dance dramatized ancestor worship and military celebrations Blossomed in 8 th and 9 th centuries A.D. Emperor Ming Huang founded a school for actors Drama was highly formal until the Mongols invaded. Mongolian influenced drama became traditional theatre until the communists took over China in World War II
Acting done by men Uses movements and poses based on symbolism White paper falling from red umbrella – snow Actor with a whip – on horseback Actor with a flag – army Costumes and makeup colors represent character ◦ Red – faithfulness ◦ White – evil ◦ Blue - cruelty
Similar to Chinese drama Unchanged and still performed today Short, serious philosophical studies that combine poetry with dance and music
Japanese dramatic tragedy performed with poetry, dance, and music Stages are 18 ft wooden squares with audience on 3 sides Background music is chanting by chorus of 6 to 8 men Scenery is tapestry on wall Only essential props are used Kyogen are comedies performed before or after the drama
Japanese puppet theatre 4 ft tall, full body wooden marionettes 3 attendants dressed in black wearing masks move the dolls
More melodramatic and sensational than Noh drama Heavy, tension filled historical tragedies Portray scenes of suicide, murder, torture, love triangles Colorful, extravagant costumes and scenery Flowerway – ramp that extends through the audience from the back of the auditorium to the stage Acting is passed on through generations
Originated in India Written in Sanskrit, the language of the aristocrats Originated the concept of the greenroom Very intimate, delicate, and restrained Performed strictly for entertainment, always a happy ending First to permit women on stage