1. Theatre History - Acting

2. Primitive Man - aware of outside forces that control their existence
developed rituals to recognize these ‘forces’
Rituals – demonstrated a form of knowledge,
educational, entertainment, or glorify
Example: “Acting out” a successful hunt for the tribe, or sitting around a fire impersonating, re-telling real events or mythology

3. Deity System of belief Coronation Rituals, Plays Abydos Passion Play
THE EGYPTIANS – 3000 B.C.
Deity System of belief Coronation Rituals, Plays Abydos Passion Play

4. The Greeks 8 and 6 centuries
534 B.C. –
Festival and Contest at the City Dionysis
Thespis – winner – given credit for the invention of drama,
First tragedy
Tragedy translates into “goat song”
Came from dithyrambs, songs and dances

5. Roman Theatre Heavily influenced by the Greeks Comedy more popular
No more chorus
Added music accompaniment to dialogue
Tragedy – noble deeds, horror, vice, blood

6. Naumachiae (sea battles)
ROMAN THEATRE
Popular forms of Roman entertainment
Chariot Races
Gladiators
Wild Animal Fights
Mime, Pantomime
Naumachiae (sea battles)

7. ROMAN THEATRE Introduction of the “archetype” character Old man
Young man in love who rebels against authority
Clever or cunning slave
Stupid Slave
Hanger-on or flatterer
Courtesan
Braggart Soldier

8. Middle Ages 1050 – 1300 Towns began forming, mostly for protection
Kings and Princes began to take control
Universities took the place of monasteries as
places of learning
Plays only read in school, never performed.

9. Middle Ages Church realized public was uneducated
Started ‘acting out’ Biblical scenes
Liturgical Drama – during services, in Latin
Vernacular Drama – Common language,
performed outside of church

10. Medieval Theatre
Church gave up active participation in Theatre
Acting troupes travelled town to town, each actor supplied own costume
Cycle Plays – Wagons pull into town, park in a circle pattern, each wagon acts out
a different episode of a play.
Townspeople walk between wagons.

11. Medieval Theatre
Types of Medieval Plays Morality Play – Taught a moral lesson worried about man’s after life, lectured about seven deadly sins Miracle Play – Portrayed the lives of the church’s saints and martyrs. Mystery Play – Acted out episodes from the Bible.

12. Revival of all things Greek and Roman
Renaissance
Revival of all things Greek and Roman
Neoclassicism
1. Verisimilitude – appearance of truth,
real life, no fantasy, no supernatural
2. Teach a moral lesson
3. Three unities – Action, Time, Place
one plot, one hour, one place

13. Renaissance Commedia dell’Arte Traveling troupe, 10 – 15 actors
Improvisation and Stock Characters
Stock Character - the same characteristics, same type of person, performing in a different situation each time

14. Renaissance Young Lovers – straight characters, dressed in white
Zanni – servants or best friends, silly, offbeat
Capitano – braggart, coward, likes to boast
Pantalone – merchant, mask with large hooked nose
Dottore – academic, uses Latin phrases wrong
Harlequin – mischief maker, diamond costume,
black mask, carried a slapstick

15. Renaissance Court Masques – think Cinderella going to the ball
Usually lasted a several days or a week
Short plays, singing, dancing, eating
Usually to honor one person or one event

16. America Set up like a variety show Became known as Vaudeville
Most popular form of entertainment in America
Performers sat in a semi-circle
“Tambo” and “Bones” – masters of ceremony

17. Realism 1860 – 1900’s Moscow Arts Theater
Konstantin Stanislavsky –
An Actor Prepares
“The Method” – a school of acting training

18. Realism Stanislavsky –
An actor’s body should be trained for all demands.
Actors should be schooled in all stage techniques.
An actor should be an observer of reality.
Inner Justification and Emotional Recall