Theatre 1041 Quiz #1

THEATRON AREA

"Seeing place;" where the audience of a Greek tragedy sat to view the performance. A theatron could refer to the place where spectator looked at theatrical performances. A theatron came to refer specifically to semi-circular, tiered, stone seats for viewing performances. The theatron was usually part of hillside overlooking the orchestra, and often wrapped around a large portion of the orchestra.

ARISTOTLE (& THEATRE CRITICISM)

A philosopher and teacher who not only became the most important mouthpiece of Greek dramatic criticism, but also one of the most important influences in all the history of literature. According to Aristotle the "6 COMPONENTS OF A PLAY" are: plot, character, theme, diction, music, and spectacle. He laid down 3 rules of drama for the construction of tragedy in "The Poetics": 1. The unity of time (the action of a play should take no more than 24 hours) 2. The unity of place (a play should cover a single physical space and should not attempt to compress geography, nor should the stage represent more than one place) 3. The unity of action (a play should have one main action that it follows, with no or few subplots)

ORCHESTRA AREA

"Dancing place;" a large circular or rectangular area at the center part of the theatre, where the play, dance, religious rites, acting used to take place.

THE PLAY OF THE VOLADORES

('Flying Men') is a fertility dance performed by several ethnic groups in Mexico and Central America to express respect for and harmony with the natural and spiritual worlds. During the ceremony, four young men climb a wooden pole eighteen to forty metres high, freshly cut from the forest with the forgiveness of the mountain god. A fifth man, the Caporal, stands on a platform atop the pole, takes up his flute and small drum and plays songs dedicated to the sun, the four winds and each of the cardinal directions.

AESCHYLUS

1st of the 3 Greek tragedians and is often described as the father of tragedy. He introduced the antagonist and employed the trilogy (his most famous is the Oresteia, the only Greek trilogy to survive).

TRILOGY

3 plays related by theme, myth, or character in Greek drama festivals. In the Athenian Dionysia, each playwright customarily entered four plays into the competition: three tragedies and one satyr play to be performed either at the end of the festival or between the second and third tragedies of a trilogy, as a spirited entertainment, a comic relief to break the oppression of hours of gloomy and fatalistic tragedy.

PARABASIS

A choral ode addressed to the audience, usually of comedy making fun of them and independent of the action of the play

SOUTHWEST INDIAN KIVA

A kiva is a special purpose building used by ancient Puebloan (previously known as Anasazi) people in the American southwest. Kivas are still in use among contemporary Puebloan people, as a gathering place used when communities reunite to perform rituals and ceremonies.

CITY DIONYSIA

A major state-sponsored festival in ancient Athens featuring dramatic competitions which ranged from 5 to 6 days festival and celebrated the arrival of Spring.

DITHYRAMB CONTEST

An ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honor of Dionysus. Competitions between groups singing and dancing dithyrambs ("Ode to Dionysus," a chant performed by a chorus of 50 men in which they danced around a sacrificial altar) were an important part of the festivals of Dionysis. Each tribe would enter two choirs, one of men and one of boys, each under the leadership of a coryphaeus. The names of the winning teams of dithyrambic contests in Athens were recorded. The successful choregos would receive a statue that would be erected at his expense—as a public monument to commemorate the victory.

OLD COMEDY & ARISTOPHANES

Fantasy/political satire/chorus and the first period of the ancient Greek comedy. The most important Old Comic playwright is Aristophanes, whose works with their daring political commentary and abundance of sexual innuendo, effectively define the genre today. Aristophanes satirized and lampooned the most prominent personalities and institutions of his time. Many writers took inspiration from Aristophanes' disguising of political attacks as buffoonery.

ABYDOS PASSION PLAY

First play ever recorded: Ancient Egypt ritualized reenactments of the coming of spring and celebration of rebirth.

EGUNGUN APIDAN THEATRE

Hybrid and diverse mode of ritual performance dedicated to ancestor worship. Accompanied by elaborate drumming and the singing and chanting of community members, the masqueraders are completely covered by elaborate costumes made of richly brocaded and highly symbolic tapestry-like fabrics. These elaborate costumes are described as "mobile sculpture with visual and sound effects". Many Egungun costumes utilize a mask as well, carved by experienced Yoruba artisans who themselves rely on a rich legacy to inform their work.

GREEK DRAMA CHORUS

Important role in Greek drama which served as narrators (described what was happening off stage/kept the audience up to date).

SOPHOCLES

One of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. He wrote 120 plays during the course of his life, but only seven have survived in a complete form (ie: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus) For almost 50 years, Sophocles was the most celebrated playwright in the dramatic competitions of the city-state of Athens. He competed in 30 competitions, won 18, and was never judged lower than second place.

NEW COMEDY & MENANDER

Social comedy (manners)/family situations/realistic/"everyday life"/no chorus was referred to as New Comedy that offers a mildly satiric view of contemporary Athenian society, especially in its familiar and domestic aspects. New Comedy features fictional average citizens and has no supernatural or heroic overtones. Thus, the chorus, the representative of forces larger than life, recedes in importance and becomes a small band of musicians and dancers who periodically provide light entertainment. Menander introduced the New Comedy in his works and became its most famous exponent, writing in a quiet, witty style. Although most of his plays are lost, Dyscolus ("The Grouch") survives.

THE ANCIENT GREEK CHORUS

The Greek chorus is rather a unique part of the greek theatre experience. There are at least six ways in which to consider the function of the chorus within the production of the Greek plays: 1. The chorus is often a character in the play. 2. The chorus often establishes the ethical or social framework of the events in the play. 3. The chorus can serve as an ideal spectator. 4. The chorus helps set the overall mood of the play. 5. The chorus adds movement and spectacle to the performance. 6. The chorus serves an important rhythmic function in the performance. Through the chanted choral odes between the scenes (episodes) of the play, time is given to the audience in which to reflect on the events of the drama as they unfold.

DIONYSUS

The ancient Greek god of fertility, wine, agriculture, and sexuality. Greek tragedy is an extension of the ancient rites carried out in honor of Dionysus.

THESPIS

The first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play (instead of speaking as him or herself). He introduced the chorus, protagonist, use of masks, and touring a show.

CHOREGOS

The producer or financier of a dramatist's works in Ancient Greece.

EURIPIDES

Tragedian of classical Athens. Some ancient scholars attributed 95 plays to him and of these, only 18 or 19 have survived. He is best known for Medea and Heracles.

SATYR PLAY

Were an ancient Greek form of tragicomedy. They featured choruses of satyrs, were based on Greek mythology, and were rife with mock drunkenness, brazen sexuality, pranks, and sight gags. Satyric drama was one of the three varieties of Athenian drama, the other two being tragedy and comedy.

IKHERNOFRET

Wrote the Abydos Passion Play. An ancient Egyptian treasurer of the 12th Dynasty. On his monuments he bears several important titles, including overseer of the double treasury, overseer of the double gold house, royal sealer and his main title treasurer. Ihkernofret is known from several stelae found at Abydos. One of these stelae contains a biography and according to its text, Ikhernofret grew up at the royal court. When he was 26, he became friend of the king, which was most likely a special honor. However, the text of the stela is of special importance as it reports the arrangement by Ikhernofret of a festival for Osiris at Abydos.