ROMAN THEATRE

Brief Roman History by 345 B.C 240 B.C There were over _____________ a year 240 B.C The beginnings of Roman theatre recorded The first record of drama at the ___________________(Roman Festival or Roman Games).

Brief Roman History 55 B.C First stone theatre built in Rome by order of ___________________.

Roman Theatre Borrowed __________ ideas and improved (?) upon them Topics less ___________________ Entertainment tended to be grandiose, _________________,_________________.

Roman Theatre Included more than drama : _____________ gladiators athletics naumachia (_____________) boxing venationes (______________)

Roman Theatre 3 Major Influences ____________________ ______________ influences, which emphasized circus-like elements __________________ – which introduced FARCE (Atella was near Naples).

Roman Theatre Farce Short improvised plays, with ________________, similar costumes and ________ based on ________________or mythology burlesque, parody Most popular during the _________B.C., then frequency declined

Roman Theatre Farce Probably was the foundation for commedia dell ‘Arte Productions included “stock” characters: __________: braggart, boisterous __________: foolish old man __________: swindler, drunk, hunchback

Roman Theatre Serious or comic (satiric) No ____________ Had _________ Violence and sex depicted literally (Heliogabalus, ruled 218-222 A.D., ordered realistic sex) Scoffed at ______________

Roman Festivals Held in honor of the ______, but much less religious than the _________. Performances at festivals probably paid for by the _______. Were often lengthy and included a series of plays or events, and probably had prizes awarded to those who put extra __________ in.

Roman Festivals ________= official religious festivals these were preceded by _________ = religious procession

Roman Festivals ludi Romani ________ of the official festivals held in September and honored _____________ regular performance of comedy and tragedy began in _____ B.C.

Roman Tragedy Characteristics of Roman Tragedy 5 acts/episodes divided by choral odes included elaborate ____________ interested in __________ unlike Greeks, they depicted ___________ on stage

Roman Tragedy Characteristics of Roman Tragedy characters dominated by a single passion which drives them to ______ (ex: obsessiveness or revenge) developed technical devices such as:_____________and___________. interest in _______________ and human connections

Roman Tragedy ________ (5 or 4 B.C. – 65 A.D.) only playwright of __________ whose plays survived Nine extant tragedies, five adapted from ____________(Gr.) Though considered to be _________, Seneca had a strong effect on later dramatists.

Roman Tragedy Seneca (5 or 4 B.C. – 65 A.D.) WroteThe Trojan Women, Media, Oedipus, Agamemnon, etc., which were all based on _________ originals His plays were probably ________ dramas—never presented, or even expected to be.

Roman Comedy Characteristics of Roman Comedy ___________ was abandoned No ________________divisions Concerned everyday, domestic affairs Action placed in the ___________

Roman Comedy Material from only 2 playwrights survived __________ (c. 254-184 B.C.) __________(195 or 185-159 B.C.)

Roman Comedy Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.) Very popular. Plays include: Pot of Gold, The Menaechmi, Braggart Warrior All based on Greek New Comedies, probably, none of which have survived

Roman Comedy Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.) Added Roman allusions, Latin dialog, witty jokes varied poetic meters Developed Slapstick & Songs

Roman Comedy Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.) Wrote only six plays, all of which survive, including: The Brothers, Mother-in-Law More complex plots – combined stories from Greek originals.

Roman Comedy Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.) Character and double-plots were his forte Less boisterous than Plautus, less episodic, more elegant language. Used Greek characters. Less popular than Plautus.

Roman Theatre Design

Roman Theatre Design First permanent Roman theatre built __ A.D. (____ years after the last surviving comedy)

Roman Theatre Design General Characteristics Built on level ground with ________-style seating (audience raised)

Roman Theatre Design General Characteristics Stage raised to _________ Stages were _______ – 20-40 ft deep 100-300 ft long

Roman Theatre Design General Characteristics dressing rooms Theatre could seat ____________ people dressing rooms in side wings stage was covered with a room

Roman Theatre Design General Characteristics _____________were common _________________– air blowing over streams of water ____________ over the audience to protect them from the sun

Roman Theatre Design ____________ “stage house” joined with audience to form one architectural unit

Roman Theatre Design Scaena frons front/façade of the stage house was painted and had _________, niches, porticoes, ___________

Roman Theatre Design ________________ becomes half-circle was probably used for ____________ and for the display and killing of wild animals if entertainment permitted, people were sat here

Roman Theatre Design ___________ corridors under the seats that lead onto the orchestra

Roman Theatre Design ___________ the stage _________ the auditorium

Roman Theatre Design Other structures included: ________________ _________________

Roman Theatre Design Circus Maximus Primarily for ____________ racing Permitted __ chariots to race at once

Roman Theatre Design Ampitheatres For gladiator contests, _______________, and occasionally naumachia Had space with ___________ below to bring up animals, etc.

Roman Actors Referred to as_______________, ______________ (means declaimers), and ____________ – later primarily histriones Mostly _________ – women were in mimes

Roman Actors Mimes were considered inferior; some believed they were _________. In the 1st century B.C., a “______" performer seems to have been emphasized

Roman Actors Style of Acting Mostly __________ traditions – masks, doubling of roles _____________ – slow, stately ______________—more rapid and conversational

Roman Actors Style of Acting Movements likely ____________ Actors probably specialized in one type of drama, but did others ____________ if favorite speeches given (no attempt at "realism")

Roman Actors Style of Acting Mimes – no ___________ Used Greek or Roman ___________ Lots of ___________