1. Roman Theater: masks

2. Roman Theater Influences Three major influences on Roman theatre: Greek Drama Etruscan influences – emphasized circus-like elements Fabula Atellana – Atellan farces (Atella was near Naples). Short improvised farces, with stock characters, similar costumes and masks – based on domestic life or mythology – burlesqued, parodied – during the 1 st century B.C., then declined Stock characters: – Bucco: braggart, boisterous – Pappas: foolish old man – Dossenus: swindler, drunk, hunchback – Drama flourished under the republic but declined into variety entertainment under the empire

3. Most notable Roman comedic writers: Plautus Terence Both relied on stock characters and standard plot formulae.

4. Masks If characters were types, ie. stock characters, then they might as well look the same, right?

5. Masks What do actors on a stage look like today? How are ‘stock’ characters portrayed on modern television?

6. On modern stage, actors’ facial features are exaggerated and/or intensified to accentuate their features and expressions. On modern television, character types – especially in pilot episodes – are very much exaggerated. Ie. The clumsy fool, the overprotective father, the ‘airhead.’

7. Ancient Romans used masks to convey these character types. What types of characters do you see in the following masks???