1. Spanish Renaissance Theatre
The Golden Age of Spanish Theatre

2. Spanish Theatre Equal to England from 1585-1642
Did not probe deeply into to man’s destiny/fate like British
Preoccupied with narrow code of honor- limited
Flourished in 1500 and 1600s

3. Influences English theatre suppressed by the church
Spanish theatre was secure due to Catholicism
Ferdinand and Isabella were able to unite much of Spain
Established Inquisition
Punished heretics
Expelled Moors and Jews

4. Who were the Moors?
The Moors were a nomadic people from North Africa originally. They invaded Spain, taking their Islamic religion and culture with them

5. What Influenced Spanish Theatre?
Moorish Influence-
women and honor*
*code of honor that placed importance on silence,
non-cooperation with authorities, and non-interference
in the illegal actions of others. (Zorro-modern idea)
adventure plays
Christian Influence
religious faith and doctrine

6. Spanish religious Drama
Extensive in the Northeast
Moorish influence was less there
Moors were expelled so religious drama expanded as a result
Auto sacramentale-combined ideas of the morality and cycle plays of England

7. auto sacramentale
Type of Play: auto sacramentale-combined ideas of the morality and cycle plays of England
Trade guilds helped with the productions (much like England)
Toured neighboring towns
Plays done on wagons (2-4) usually 16 feet long and 36 feet tall
Much like pageant wagons of England
Later used fixed platforms

8. auto sacramentale Performed in front of churches
Performed in courtyards
No evidence they were ever done in churches
Finally forbidden in too carnival in spirit
Some of the dances considered too objectionable
Immoral actors- but still done for over 200 years

9. auto sacramentale- wagons

10. Secular Drama
Lope de Rueda ( ) called the father of Spanish Theatre
Toured widely
Wrote plays resembling Medieval farces

11. CervanTES Most famous for the play Don Quixote
Wrote 36 plays about Spanish life
Accused of copying the ideas of de Vega
Started writing full-length plays both serious
and comic

12. Don Quixote
The story follows the adventures of an hidalgo (a gentleman) named Mr. Alonso Quixano who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to set out to revive chivalry, undo wrongs, and bring justice to the world, under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha. He recruits a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire, who often employs a unique, earthy wit in dealing with Don Quixote's rhetorical orations on antiquated knighthood.

13. Two major playwrights Lope De Vega Calderon
Between these two men there
are over 700 plays to their credit.

14. de Vega 1562-1634 Member of the Armada Many love affairs
Became a priest after 1614
wrote comedies (estimates of 483- over 1800
450 survive (thought to have written about 2 plays/week)

15. de Vega -style Clear actions Suspense
Conflicting claims of love and honor
Happy endings

16. de Vega -style Characters represented rank and condition of people
Female roles- strong- among his best
Extended the simpleton character
Natural and lively dialog
Spanish equivalent to blank verse- but not considered equal to
Shakespeare –never deep human traits and glossed over the dark side
of human nature

17. Calderon (1600-1681) Challenged de Vega for fame
Wrote mainly for court/wealthy- which contributed to the decline of Spanish theatre
University educated
Became a priest in 1651 (catholic church a strong influence in Spain)
Wrote 200 plays, about 100 survive; 8 are autos

18. Calderon Two styles of plays
Cape and Sword- dealt with intrigue and misunderstandings
(the main characters literally wore these items).
Cloak- hid identity
Sword- concealable and silent weapon.
Serious- dealt with jealousy and honor

19. Famous Spaniard
Don Juan: the son of a noble Spanish family led one of the first major colonization efforts into what is now the United States.
He held a thanksgiving feast, and presented for the colonists a play, written by Captain Marcos de Farfan, celebrating the conquest and conversion of the native people of New Mexico.
Many believe that this was the first thanksgiving service and the first dramatic presentation in America.