EARLY AMERICAN THEATRE 1700’s – Civil War

Starting in the 1700’s, entertainers (actors) from England performed in U.S. large cities. Remember, the colonies were just starting out. There were little (or no) theaters or entertainers to perform for the colonists. So, actors from England traveled to the colonies to perform.

During the Revolutionary War, many colonies banned theatrical performances to focus on the war.

In the early 1800’s, well known stars toured the country.

The most popular theatrical form of the 1800’s.

What is Melodrama? The word "melodrama" comes from "melos", the Greek word for song, combined with "drama". Music is used to increase the emotional response or to suggest characters.

A villain poses a threat, the hero escapes the threat (or rescues the heroine) and there is a happy ending. "... A bad gunslinger called Salty Sam was chasin' poor Sweet Sue "He trapped her in the old sawmill and said with an evil laugh, "If you don't give me the deed to your ranch "I'll saw you all in half! "And then he grabbed her (and then) "He tied her up (and then) "He turned on the bandsaw (and then, and then...!) …” MELODRAMA CHARACTERISTICS: I.Clear distinctions between good and evil. II. The forces of good always won at the end of the play. III.Music was used to enhance the story (through emotions) and to represent characters.

The Most Successful Melodrama was: Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

So what does this have to do with today’s theatre? Melodrama is ubiquitous (being everywhere) on television and movies: it is evident, for example, in a long series of TV movies about diseases or domestic violence, or the large number of hour-long television programs about lawyers, police officers, or physicians.

Issues melodrama is a type of melodrama in which current events are given a dramatic treatment, hoping to use some recent crime or controversy as a way to draw an emotional response from the viewer.

Action melodrama is another type of melodrama that is particularly big in the action Hollywood film blockbuster. An athletic action hero is pitted against an evil villain, and through a series of fights, car chases, love scenes and splatter, the hero overcomes the villain and restores the balance of good in the universe.

Informal use / Slang Casual use of the word as an adjective is used to exaggerate emotions. For example: "Don't be so (melo)dramatic!" This has fallen into common everyday language.

Summary of the Characteristics of Early American Drama: Starting in the 1700’s, entertainers from England performed in large U.S. cities. During the Revolutionary War, many colonies banned theatrical performances to focus on the war. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the most performed melodrama. In the early 1800’s, well known stars toured the country. I. Clear distinctions between good and evil. II.The forces of good always won at the end of the play. III. Music was used to enhance the story and to represent characters. MELODRAMA was the most popular theatrical form of the 1800s. MELODRAMA CHARACTERISTICS:

THE END!!