Features of Melodrama theatre features of the theatre form

Melodrama - origins Melodrama - from Melody and Drama, originally the word 'melodrama' simply meant 'drama with music'. Melodrama is essentially a visual form of theatre with stereotypical characters, sensational stage effects and plot contrivances (virtue triumphing over vice, plot dominating characterisation.) At its most popular in 18th Century.

Melodrama - origins Out of this very simple structure, other types evolved: domestic melodrama nautical melodrama military melodrama temperance and gambling melodrama

Stock Characters Were used so that audiences could relate to what was going on (without actually needing to hear absolutely everything) Hero and Heroine - good Villain - evil Male Servant - comic relief Soubrette (female servant) - comic relief Old Man and Old Woman

Acting Style Physical and highly stylised. Movement was large, overblown and generous. Voices were loud, clear and overstated

Acting Style Acting conformed to a code, meaning was conveyed through stance and gesture There were acting manuals that had very strict rules that the actors had to follow to portray emotions: A hand to the forehead = suffering A hand over the heart = virtue, honesty, faithfulness A downcast head = defeat

Remember…. In melodrama, we aren’t expected as actors to actually experience the particular emotion (like in the Stanislavski method) we are simply expected to indicate the feeling to the audience. The audience expected this style of acting. If you tried to be ‘real’ you were invariably boo-ed off the stage!

Costumes The ‘code’ extended to the costumes. Hero = dressed in white. May have often wore a military uniform or in nautical plays, a sailor’s uniform.

Costumes Villain = dressed in black Male Servant = checked vest and jacket (comic) Ragged clothes indicated poverty

Voices Also had to conform to the code of Melodrama. Hero = tenor Villain = bass Heroine = light soprano Soubrette = Mezzo (Alto)

Audiences Going to the theatre today is tame in comparison to the nineteenth century. The character of Melodrama was influenced, developed by the audience (not the playwrights, theatre managers or directors) As an actor, if you stepped outside of the expected code, the audience would be ruthless because you did not meet their expectations. Failure to do so could well have ended your career.

Audiences Performances could last up to five hours Alcohol was readily available in the theatre. Actors therefore were often targets for bottles, as were other members of the audience. In order to control such a crowd, a dynamic acting style was needed. Explicit sexual references in plays were banned, which is ironic considering that at that time there were side-slips in the gallery where prostitutes worked during dull moments in the play!

7 Features of the form Features that are key to this genre: stereotypical characters exaggerated story lines the theme of good triumphing over evil emphasis on action and sensation romantic love - often the cause of strife sentiment - much evident emotion such as grief, horror, despair, greed, envy audience participation encouraged by cue cards and speaking directly to the audience. exaggerated acting style e.g. gasps, swooning, striking poses