1. Wrapping Up – French Theatre

2. FRENCH THEATRE
Most theatre in France in the first quarter of the 17th century probably consisted of popular farces.
French theatre upheld the Italian neoclassical ideals.

3. FRENCH THEATRE
Moliere

4. Moliere FRENCH THEATRE
Comic playwright, whose work often raised controversy because he insisted on depicting vices and follies truthfully.

5. Moliere FRENCH THEATRE
Plays earned the respect and patronage of enlightened theatregoers and he remains one of the most popular dramatists of all time.

6. Moliere FRENCH THEATRE
Wrote in the neoclassical form; the dialogue in many of his plays consists of rhyming couplets.
Influenced by Commedia dell’arte; in particular, the characters in his plays resemble the stock types in commeida.

7. Moliere FRENCH THEATRE Plays frequently resolved by a deus ex machine.
Combined farcical humor with witty dialogue and a keen eye for human foibles
Plays frequently resolved by a
deus ex machine.

8. FRENCH THEATRE
Tartuffe By Moliere

9. Wrapping Up – English Restoration

10. English Restoration Great plays of the Restoration were its comedies.
Comedies of “humour” followed in the tradition of Ben Johnson, in which characters have one trait overshadowing all others.
There were also farces; comedies of manners; comedies of intrigue which feature daring exploits of romance and adventure and had complicated plots.

11. English Restoration Comedy of Manners Influenced by Moliere
Focuses on the fashions, foibles of the upper class – gossip, adultery, sexual escapades.
Comedies poke fun at the social conventions and norms of the time and satirize the preoccupation of the upper class with reputation” most of the upper-class characters in the plays are disreputable.
Language – witty exchanges, repartee, and sexually suggestive references.

12. English Restoration
Eleanor “Nell” Gwynn

13. English Restoration Often credited as the first female actor
Eleanor “Nell” Gwynn
Often credited as the first
female actor

14. English Restoration Eleanor “Nell” Gwynn
Started her theatrical career selling oranges at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane
Attracted the attention of Charles Hart, the leading actor, and she became his mistress and protégé

15. English Restoration Eleanor “Nell” Gwynn
Made her stage debut in December 1664
Specialties were “breeches roles”
Drew the attention of King Charles II and became his mistress.

16. Wrapping Up – Emergence of Realism

17. Realism
Realists sought to convince their audience that stage action represented to everyday life.
Unlike drama that featured larger than life characters, was written in verse, and had supernatural figures, realistic drama mirrored life.
Action onstage resembled what people could observe around them; characters behaved, spoke, and dressed like ordinary people.

18. Realism
Henrick Ibsen
Founder of Realism

19. Realism Henrick Ibsen His middle plays are the realistic social dramas
They explore the interaction of people with society, dealing with problems as unhappy marriages, the sexual double standard, infidelity, and the position of woman.
All plays share the common theme of the individual amidst conflicting social pressures

20. Realism
A Doll’s House
By Henrick Ibsen

21. Realism
Hedda Gabler
By Henrick Ibsen

22. Realism
Moscow Art Theatre

23. Realism Moscow Art Theatre
Most influential of the late 19th century theatres dedicated to realism.
Founded in 1898 by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.
Established itself with its production of the Seagull

24. Realism
Moscow Art Theatre
Anton Chekhov

25. Anton Chekhov
Plays are significant not only as realism but also as perfect examples of modern tragicomedy. (tragic and comic elements are blended)
Comedy does not provided contrast but rather increases our awareness of the tragic circumstances.
His tragicomic characters are unable to fulfill their deepest desires.
Ability to make us see that underneath comedy there is often tragedy.

26. The Three Sisters
By Anton Chekhov

27. The Cherry Orchard
By Anton Chekhov

28. Uncle Vayna
By Anton Chekhov

29. the Seagull
By Anton Chekhov

30. Konstantin Stanislavski
Realism
Moscow Art Theatre
Konstantin Stanislavski

31. Konstantin Stanislavski
Moscow Art Theatre
Konstantin Stanislavski
Created many of the leading roles in Chekhov’s plays.
According to Stanislavski, an actor must do a great deal of script analysis.
The performer must be aware of the character’s background, environment, and relationships, as well as any additional information the dramatists provides

32. Konstantin Stanislavski
“Magic If” – What Would I do IF I were that characters in that
situation
Super Objective/Spine - a characters overall goal.
For each scene the performer must be able to identify the characters
specific objective.
Emotional recall or affective memory: performer is called on to
remember an event in his or her own life that parallels the emotional
situation of the play Stanislavski cautioned against excessive use of
emotional recall.