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Greek Drama

+Drama was born in ancient Greece!

600s B.C. - Greeks were giving choral performances of dancing and singing

Performances at festivals honoring Dionysus

Later they held drama

contests to honor him

+Thespis (534 B. C.)

Defined theater art of acting a part on stage dramatic impersonation of another character than yourself

Uncertain whether he was a playwright, an actor, or a priest

“Thespian” term comes from his name

+Description of Greek Theater

Took place in large hillside amphitheaters held 20, 000 people!!

Players included a chorus and their leader

Lines were chanted

Chorus performed in an “orchestra”, not on a raised platform

+Features of Greek Theater

Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre:

Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out)

Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience

Theatron – Seating for audience

+Greek Stage

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Deus Ex Machina-Latin for “God From a Machine”-Plot devise developed by Ancient Greeks

- An unresolvable problem is suddenly fixed by the unexpected intervention of a new character- “The God would appear on the Skene and solve the drama’s conflict- A devise used to provide the audience with a surprise happy ending

+Where and how were the dramas performed? …In an amphitheatre

…With a chorus who described most of the action.

…With masks

…With all the fighting and movement going on off stage.

+Greek Theater (continued)

Masks used to represent characters and emotions

High-soled boots worn to add height

Both of these limited movement

+Greek Drama (continued)

Wore masks to indicate the nature of the characters played.

Men played women’s roles

Same actor appeared in several parts.

Of the hundreds of Greek tragedies written, fewer than 35 survive.

+ Masks in Greek Culture

+The Imporatance of Drama in Greek Culture

Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage)

Banks would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions—even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays

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Greek Tragedy and Comedy

+Most Important Era (400s B.C.)

Tragedies performed as part of a civic celebration called the City Dionysia

Festival lasted several daysPrizes given for best tragedy, comedy, acting, and choral singing

+Theater of Dionysus

Located on slope below the Acropolis in Athens

Seated 14,000Circular acting area called orchestra

Skene (stage house)

+ Greek Tragedy Tragedy means “goat song” (relates to Dionysian rituals)

Nearly all surviving tragedies are based on myth

Character’s struggle against hostile forces ended in defeat and ultimately in death

A series of dramatic episodes separated by choral odes (mini-songs).

Episodes performed by a few actors - never more than 3 on stage

+Three Playwrights

Aeschylus

Most famous for Oresteia

Introduced concept of second actor

Expanded possibilities for plot

+Sophocles

Innovation of the third actor

Most famous for Oedipus Rex

+Euripides

Created the ultimate form of drama

Far more naturalistic or human approach in his works

Showed interest in psychology through portraits of women

+Euripides (continued)

Medea is most famous work Continuation of the myth of Jason and the Argonauts

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+Roman Theater

Borrowed extensively from GreeksLatin word “ludus” – playChiefly important because it influenced

Renaissance playwrightsWorks of only one author left – Lucius

Annaeus Seneca 5 act form -- Elaborate language Revenge as the main idea of the play Confidant

+Roman Comedy

Typical plot – misunderstandings Mistaken identity Free-spending sons deceiving their fathers

Gradual decline – actors excommunicated

-- rising power of church

-- invasions by barbarian tribes

+Medieval Drama

Death of theater after fall of Roman Empire

Kept alive only by street players, jugglers, acrobats, and animal trainers

+Medieval Churches

Although against theater during Roman Empire, churches are most responsible for bringing theater back

Church needed to establish itself in the community Began using drama to tell stories about religious holidays

+Liturgical Drama

Rebirth of drama through brief plays acted by priests as part of the liturgy (worship service)

The Resurrection of Christ was first event dramatized

+Mystery Plays

Written in verse and taught Christian doctrine Presented Biblical characters as if they lived in medieval

times

+Mystery Plays (continued)

Setting for play on pageant wagon

Wagon drawn through city to various places Actors performed on platform outside wagon

+Miracle Plays

Based on lives of saints rather than scripture

Became secular after short period of time

+Morality Plays

Relgious performed “speeches”

Taught meanings of Biblical passages other than literal ones

Changed into plays called interludes Interludes were created strictly for entertainment

+Renaissance Drama (Italy)

Strictly applied Aristotle’s rules

Spectacular musicals

Intermezzo – music and lively entertainment between acts

16th century - Opera emerges

17th century – Commedia dell’arte Comedy and improv

+Renaissance Drama

Pastoral drama Set in the country Depicted romantic affairs of rustic people, usually

shepherds and shepherdesses

+Renaissance Drama (England)

Not bound by rules

Elements of farce, morality, disregard for time and place

Christopher Marlowe Development of blank verse

+England Performances

Began early afternoon; ended just before dusk

Women never on stage; parts played by boys

Attended by all classes of society

Refreshments sold during performances

Audience in a “holiday” mood

+William Shakespeare

Father of modern drama

Creator of the Globe Theater

+Shakespeare (Continued)

Wrote tragedies, comedies, etc.

Unified plot

Strong characters and imagery

Perfection with verse form and language Captured the spirit of ordinary speech Gave special dignity to characters/situations

+The Globe Theater

One of four major theaters in England – the other three – Swan, Rose, Hope

Open-air octagonal amphitheater

Seated 3,000

3 stories high

Original burned down; was reconstructed before Shakespeare’s death

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Congratulations!!!

You have completed the lecture on the history of theater!!!