The Theatre of the English Restoration 10 The Theatre of the English Restoration (© Peter Guither)

Jacobean and Caroline Drama Elizabeth died 1603 King James died 1625 King Charles I 1642 – Puritans took over Parliament Theatre outlawed 1649 Charles I beheaded Oliver Cromwell – lord protector of England Charles II and nobility exiled to France Exposed to French and Italian Theatre

Background: The Restoration Charles I of England removed from the throne by Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans after a bitter civil war (642–1649); Charles beheaded In 1660, Charles II, who had been living in France, was invited by a newly elected Parliament to return from exile to rule England under a restored monarchy © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Theatre During the Commonwealth 1642–1660, theatrical activity severely curtailed; playhouses were dismantled, actors were persecuted Some entertainments organized secretly William Davenant and John Webb © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Restoration William Davenant and Thomas Killigrew Royalists Davenant – Oxford grad, replaced Johnson as poet laureate, knighted 1643 Killigrew – dramatists, went with king in excile. Samuel Pepy’s called him a “merry droll” Droll- short version of full plays popular during the period the theatres were closed, usually comedies

The Theatre of the Restoration Begins William Davenant (also spelled D'Avenant) and Thomas Killigrew Emerged to take control of theatre Both familiar with English theatrical tradition; would take English theatre in a new direction (© National Portrait Gallery, London) (© National Portrait Gallery, London) © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Theatre Royals and Patents Charles II gave TWO patents William Davenant – Duke's Company Thomas Killigrew – Kings Company Gave two men duopoly over theatre in London Duke's company better managed Two companies merged in 1692

Drury Lane When two companies merged, they made Drury Lane home

Restoration Drama Serious Drama Restoration Comedy Comedies of Intrigue Aphra Behn Comedies of Manners William Wycherley William Congreve The Female Wits Aphra Behn (Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library at Lincoln Center, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations) William Wycherley (© National Portrait Gallery, London) © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Type of Theatre Old plays: who owns them Killegrew given rights to even Davenant's plays, later more fairly divided Heroic Tragedy – extraordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances. Rarely read or performed. Restoration Tragedy Three unities and neoclassical rules

The Decline of Restoration Comedy William and Mary A Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage – Jeremy Collier Susanna Centlivre George Farquhar Susanna Centlivre (Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library at Lincoln Center, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations) © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Restoration Audiences Restoration theatregoers were quite spirited Purchasing fruit for throwing from the “orange wenches” Speaking back to the actors Arranging assignations with each other Attending the theatre to be seen, rather than to see the play © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Performers Actresses and Actors Acting Companies Eleanor (Nell) Gwynn Thomas Betterton Anne Bracegirdle Acting Companies Nell Gwynn Meets King Charles II (Bettmann/Corbis) Anne Bracegirdle (Mander and Mitchenson/ ArenaPAL) © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Restoration Theatres Government and the Theatres Theatre Architecture in the Restoration Threads in Theatre History The Drury Lane Theatre Scenery, Scene-Shifting Technology, Costumes, and Lighting (© Historical Picture Archive/Corbis) © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ground Plan of a Restoration Stage © 2012, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.