LATE 19 TH CENTURY THEATRE RealismAndNaturalism

Towards the end of the of the nineteenth century, audiences grew tired of the exaggerated forms of Romanticism and MelodramaTowards the end of the of the nineteenth century, audiences grew tired of the exaggerated forms of Romanticism and Melodrama There was a movement towards the opposite – realism and naturalismThere was a movement towards the opposite – realism and naturalism Audiences wanted to see real life characters in real life situations portrayed on stageAudiences wanted to see real life characters in real life situations portrayed on stage

Realism Scientific and technological breakthroughs were changing the worldScientific and technological breakthroughs were changing the world More emphasis was placed on seeing reality in a scientific, factual mannerMore emphasis was placed on seeing reality in a scientific, factual manner The Romantics based their ideals on the emotional and spiritualThe Romantics based their ideals on the emotional and spiritual The Realists emphasised ideas and proof, especially through observationThe Realists emphasised ideas and proof, especially through observation

Psychology and psychiatry – the study of human behaviour was gaining recognitionPsychology and psychiatry – the study of human behaviour was gaining recognition People were starting to seek scientific answers to questions about what motivates our actions, or why we do thingsPeople were starting to seek scientific answers to questions about what motivates our actions, or why we do things Realism can be traced back to 1850Realism can be traced back to 1850 By 1850 people began to study the influence of the environment on the person (including family background, work, culture, etc)By 1850 people began to study the influence of the environment on the person (including family background, work, culture, etc)

Playwrights More interested in observing peopleMore interested in observing people Wrote plays focusing on charactersWrote plays focusing on characters Wrote plays focusing on contemporary society – or the real worldWrote plays focusing on contemporary society – or the real world Playwrights believed they could change the world for the better if they could draw attention to the injustices of lifePlaywrights believed they could change the world for the better if they could draw attention to the injustices of life

The Plays No longer dealt with dramatised myths or historical eventsNo longer dealt with dramatised myths or historical events New plays dealt with harsh realities of lifeNew plays dealt with harsh realities of life Represented on stage the problems in the world at the timeRepresented on stage the problems in the world at the time

Plays were about: PovertyPoverty HomelessnessHomelessness ProstitutionProstitution Other contemporary problemsOther contemporary problems Some audience members were shocked. They preferred escapism and happily ever after melodramas.

Henrick Ibsen 1828 – – 1906 Norwegian playwrightNorwegian playwright Best represents realism in dramaBest represents realism in drama Ibsen’s plays had a profound effect on the future of theatreIbsen’s plays had a profound effect on the future of theatre His plays were controversialHis plays were controversial No happy endingsNo happy endings Sometimes bad things happen to good people and vice versaSometimes bad things happen to good people and vice versa

An Older Ibsen

Ibsen’s Plays Themes – divorce, unhappiness, diseases, role of women, depression, social problemsThemes – divorce, unhappiness, diseases, role of women, depression, social problems Characters were complexCharacters were complex Characters faced deep frustrations and strugglesCharacters faced deep frustrations and struggles Plays offered insights into the human mind and heart that were real and genuine, rather than what society wanted to hearPlays offered insights into the human mind and heart that were real and genuine, rather than what society wanted to hear

Ibsen’s Most Famous Plays A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House Hedda GablerHedda Gabler GhostsGhosts

Hedda Gabler

Cate Blanchett as Hedda Gabler

Acting in Ibsen’s Plays Given the nature of his plays, the style of acting had to change drastically from the previous melodramatic styleGiven the nature of his plays, the style of acting had to change drastically from the previous melodramatic style Characters in Ibsen’s plays spoke realistic dialogue, and all action on stage was believableCharacters in Ibsen’s plays spoke realistic dialogue, and all action on stage was believable

A Doll’s House

Naturalism of ‘A Slice of Life’ Naturalism started in 1870sNaturalism started in 1870s Followers of Naturalism believed that realism did not go far enoughFollowers of Naturalism believed that realism did not go far enough Playwright, Emile Zola (1840 – 1902), believed that a play on stage should be exactly as life of stagePlaywright, Emile Zola (1840 – 1902), believed that a play on stage should be exactly as life of stage The audience should see ‘a slice of life’The audience should see ‘a slice of life’

Naturalistic acting style Acting became more life likeActing became more life like Storylines did not need to be fully developed because the audience was just seeing into real life episodesStorylines did not need to be fully developed because the audience was just seeing into real life episodes

Famous naturalistic Playwrights Henri BecqueHenri Becque August StrindbergAugust Strindberg Maxim GorkyMaxim Gorky Anton CheckovAnton Checkov

August Strindberg

Strindberg – playwright & performer

Stagecraft Naturalistic plays created a need for a new breed of actors, designers and directorsNaturalistic plays created a need for a new breed of actors, designers and directors Many individual practitioners set out to do their own thingMany individual practitioners set out to do their own thing Andre Antoine founded Theatre Libre in ParisAndre Antoine founded Theatre Libre in Paris He led the way in acting and staging these playsHe led the way in acting and staging these plays

Gordon Craig and Vsevolold Meyerhold created new styles of staging and lighting designGordon Craig and Vsevolold Meyerhold created new styles of staging and lighting design Europe was swept by pockets of small but innovative theatrical activityEurope was swept by pockets of small but innovative theatrical activity In Russia, a collaboration between a director and theatre company would profoundly influence modern theatre and actingIn Russia, a collaboration between a director and theatre company would profoundly influence modern theatre and acting

Konstantin Stanislavski Was director of the Moscow Art TheatreWas director of the Moscow Art Theatre Developed an acting method with his partner, Vladimir Nemirovich-DanchenkoDeveloped an acting method with his partner, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko This method acting system enabled actors to more fully enter the world of the characters they were playing on stageThis method acting system enabled actors to more fully enter the world of the characters they were playing on stage The emphasis was on a totally believable performanceThe emphasis was on a totally believable performance

Stanislavski

A thoughtful but older Stanislavski

Speech and movement had to be as life like as possibleSpeech and movement had to be as life like as possible The way to understand character was through: research, observation, and empathizing with the characterThe way to understand character was through: research, observation, and empathizing with the character

Empathy meant imagining as fully as possible what it would be like to be in the character’s shoesEmpathy meant imagining as fully as possible what it would be like to be in the character’s shoes In the past actors had performed in a stereotyped, rigid mannerIn the past actors had performed in a stereotyped, rigid manner Stanislavski’s system recognised that every individual is unique and worth understandingStanislavski’s system recognised that every individual is unique and worth understanding

Acting Style

Anton Chekov

Three Sisters by Chekov

And so we see the birth of the common actor training system known as Method Acting.