Theatre History Realism & Henrik Ibsen

The 19th century began a period characterized by naturalism and realism Playwrights such as Ibsen, Chekhov, Shaw and Strindberg led the way in this new type of theatre which reflected a language and style more natural to real life – excess and melodrama play a lesser role Actors began to use the “fourth wall”, imagining a wall where the audience sits, keeping the belief entirely in the scene and not speaking to the audience. Stanislavsky developed Method Acting for the new theatre. The “Method” requires actors to approach their work from a more personal response, identifying the psychological and emotional life of a character.

Playwrights were concerned with social and economical problems of the day – rather than provide an escape, theatre engaged in discussion and illumination. Playwrights gave characters specific stage directions; characters are individuals – not stereotypes, heroes or heroines; detail given to the physical appearance of character. Theatrical Reactions to the Times Truth is derived through the Five senses Drama as a mirror of Real Life Dwells on heredity, Environment, Cause & Effect Attacked social evils Acting relies on Psychological analysis

World View Late 19th Century explosion of urban growth (cities) – Industrial Revolution electricity, combustible engines, telephones technological advances increased people’s faith in science and engineering to solve human problems. Tenets of Realism Art must depict truthfully the real, physical world Truth can be attained only through direct observation Only contemporary life and manners can be observed directly The artist must be as impersonal as a scientist

The Emergence of Realism 3 major developments helped lead to the emergence of realism: August Comte (1798-1857), often considered to be the "father of Sociology," developed a theory known as Positivism. Among the Comte’s ideas was an encouragement for understanding the cause and effect of nature through precise observation. Human nature is explainable and predictable by science.

- people were controlled by heredity and environment Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859, and created a worldwide stir which exists to this day. Darwin’s essential series suggested that life developed gradually from a common ancestry and that life favored "survival of the fittest." The implications of Darwin's Theories were threefold: - people were controlled by heredity and environment - behaviors were beyond our control - humanity is a natural object, rather than being above all else   Karl Marx (1818-1883) in the late 1840’s espoused a political philosophy arguing against urbanization and in favor of a more equal distribution of wealth. These three men stated ideas that helped open the door for a type of theatre that would be different from any that had come before.

Beginnings of the Movement: Realism came about partly as a response to these new social / artistic conditions. The "movement" began in France around 1853, and by 1860 had some general precepts: - truth resides in material objects we perceived to all five senses; truth is verified through science - the scientific method—observation—would solve everything - human problems were the highest were home of science Art—according to the realist view—had as its purpose to better mankind. Drama was to involve the direct observation of human behavior; to use contemporary settings and time periods, and was to deal with a temporary life and problems as subjects.

Realism first showed itself in staging and costuming. Three-dimensional details had been added by 1800. By 1850, theater productions used historically accurate settings and details, partly as a result of romantic ideals. But it was harder to get realism accepted widely. Konstantin Stanislavsky (1863 – 1938) - formed the Moscow Art Theatre - formulated “the Method” technique of acting

Principles of “The Method” - The actor’s body & voice should be thoroughly trained so they may respond efficiently to all demands. - The actor should be schooled in stage technique - The actor should be a skilled observer of reality, out of which he builds his roles - The actor should seek an inner justification for everything he does on stage. - The actor must undertake a thorough analysis of the script & its given circumstances. He must define his character’s motivations in each scene, in the play as a whole & his relationship to other characters. - “Illusion of the first time” – focus attention upon the action as it unfolds moment to moment. - “Magic If” – as if I was in that situation - An actor must continue to work to perfect himself as an instrument.

George Bernard Shaw(1856-1950) – in England Writers of realism: George Bernard Shaw(1856-1950) – in England - Uncommon for his witty humor - Made fun of societies notion using for the purpose of educating and changing. His plays tended to show the accepted attitude, then demolished that attitude while showing his own solutions. - Arms and the Man (1894) – about love and war and honor. - Mrs. Warren’s Profession – prostitution. - Major Barbara (1905) – a munitions manufacturer gives more to the world (jobs, etc.) while the Salvation Army only prolongs of the status quo. - Pygmalion (1913) – shows the transforming of a flower girl into a society woman, and exposes the phoniness of society. The musical My Fair Lady was based on this play.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) – in Russia - Chekhov is known more for poetic expiration and symbolism, compelling psychological reality, people trapped in social situations, hope in hopeless situations. He claimed that he wrote comedies; others think they are sad and tragic. Characters in Chekhov’s plays seem to have a fate that is a direct result of what they are. His plays have an illusion of plotlessness. - The Seagull (1898). - Three Sisters (1900) – we did the show here last year; about three sisters who want to move to Moscow but never do. - The Cherry Orchard (1902) - Again, his realism has affected other Playwrights, as did his symbolic meanings in the texts of his plays and in the titles of his plays.

Henrik Ibsen (1828 – 1906) In Norway: Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) is considered to be the father of modern realistic drama. His plays attacked society’s values and dealt with unconventional subjects within the form of the well-made play (causally related). Basic Ibsen themes the struggle for integrity the conflict between duty to oneself and duty to others Ibsen perfected the well-made play formula; and by using a familiar formula made his plays, with a very shocking subject matter, acceptable. He discarded soliloquies, asides, etc. Exposition in the plays was motivated, there were causally related scenes, inner psychological motivation was emphasized, the environment had an influence on characters’ personalities, and all the things characters did and all of things the characters used revealed their socio-economic milieu. He became a model for later realistic writers.

Ibsen’s Contributions to Realism - discarded asides & soliloquies - motivated exposition (and lots of it!) - internal psychological motivation The principles of Ibsen's teaching, his moral ethic, was that honesty in facing facts is the first requisite of a decent life. Human nature has dark recesses which must be explored and illuminated; life has pitfalls which must be recognized to be avoided; and society has humbugs, hypocrisies, and obscure diseases which must be revealed before they can be cured. Furthermore -- and this is a vital point in understanding Ibsen -- experience and life are a happiness in themselves, not merely a means to happiness; and in the end good must prevail.

Later in life, Ibsen turned to more symbolic and abstract dramas; but his "realism" affected others, and helped lead to realistic theatre, which has become, despite variations and rejections against it, the predominant form of theatre even today. Ibsen was reacting to the uncertain tempo of the time; Europe was being reshaped with revolutions. The Revolutionary spirit and the emergence of modernism influenced Ibsen’s choice to focus on an unlikely hero – a housewife – in his attack on middle-class values. Quickly becoming the talk of parlors across Europe, the play succeeded in its attempt to provoke discussion.

Sources: Northern Virginia Community College – History of the Theatre Online Course, http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd130et/TheaHist/realism.htm The Theatre Database – Henrik Ibsne - http://www.theatredatabase.com/19th_century/henrik_ibsen_001.html