1. Comedy of Manners and Restoration Comedy

2. Neo-Classicism A movement in the arts mid-1600s through 1700s Europe
neo-classical = “new classical”; returning to the structure, order, and style of classic Greece and Rome

3. French Neo-Classical Theatre
jeu de paume

4. French Neo-Classical Theatre
Audience was mainly people of the court (aristocracy)
Influenced by Italian theatre and opera
Elaborate costumes
Elaborate scenery
Had to impress and amaze rich audience!

5. French Neo-Classical Theatre
Soon permanent theatres were built
had a proscenium arch
painted scenery with depth—more dimensional
deeper orchestra seating
side boxes
candle-light (chandeliers)
raked stage

6. All of this was heavily influenced by the Italian theatre/opera.

7. French Neo-Classical Theatre
Professional actors, part of companies or troupes; provided own costumes
Women actors allowed onstage
Begin to have theatrical specialists, like lighting and scenic designers

9. L’Académie Française
Established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu (advisor to King Louis XIII)
Regulated which plays followed the “rules of acceptable drama”
During the Neoclassical Age, if the Academy reviewed a play and decided it broke a rule, the playwright could face imprisonment and bankruptcy.

10. Molière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin)
French playwright ( )
somehow broke the rules but remained the most popular playwright
influenced by Commedia dell’Arte
Tartuffe; The Misanthrope; The Miser

11. The Restoration England Began in 1660
Charles II was restored to the throne after being in exile in France for years

12. The Restoration
While Charles II was in France, he saw a lot of theatre in the French court
He opened the theatres back up and had new ones built—he liked what he had seen in France…
proscenium
raked stage
elaborate scenery and costumes
candlelight
actresses

13. Famous Restoration Actors
Thomas Betterton
Nell Gwyn (“orange-girl” to comic actress to Charles II’s mistress)

14. Restoration Theatre Restoration Comedy = Comedy of Manners
Restoration Comedy Playwrights
William Congreve, The Way of the World
William Wycherly, The Country Wife
Apra Behn, The Rover (first British female playwright!)

15. Restoration - Comedy of Manners
style of comedy that became very popular during the Restoration in England (1600s)
sometimes called Restoration Comedy or Drawing-Room Comedy
influenced by the comedies of Molière

16. Comedy of Manners
The plays are satire—they poke fun at society, especially the upper class.
social “rules”
mannerisms
hypocrisy
greed
gossip
affairs

17. “To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune
“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness.”
“The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her if she is pretty and to someone else if she is plain.”
“35 is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained 35 for years.”

18. usually not much depth)
Comedy of Manners
will often use stock characters (easily recognizable character types;
usually not much depth)

19. relies on witty wordplay, not so much on physical action and plot
Comedy of Manners
relies on witty wordplay, not so much on physical action and plot

20. Comedy of Manners
The names often tells us about the characters: Lady Fidget or Lady Squeamish
VERY sexual and suggestive (King Charles liked that!)

21. Comedy of Manners
The playwrights would write for specific people they knew would be in the audience
Audiences were mainly aristocratic
Audiences would drink, yell out, pinch orange girls, etc. during the shows

22. Oscar Wilde Irish playwright and novelist (1854-1900)
His fiancé left him for
Bram Stoker.
“I have nothing to declare but my genius.”
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Picture of Dorian Gray

23. Comedy of Manners began in ancient times and has appeared throughout many periods of history—it is just most strongly associated with the 1600s-1800s.