theatre appreciation: chapter 11

tragedy

A serious drama in which there is a downfall of the primary character. - ~900 tragedies produced in Athens (fifth century B.C.E.), 31 survived - all by 3 dramatists: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides

skene

Classical Greek and Hellenistic scene house. - can represent palace

vernacular drama

Drama from the Middle Ages performed in the everyday speech of the people and presented in town squares or other parts of cities.

True or False: Comedies written by Plautus were quite similar to the Old Comedy written by Aristophanes.

False

morality plays

Medieval drama designed to teach a lesson. The characters were often allegorical and represented virtues or faults.

Unlike its counterpart Greek tragedy, Old Comedies have a scene between two forces representing opposite sides of an issues which is called _____________.

agon

We know, using this photograph, that the structure in Orange, France is a Roman theatre because...?

... of the elaborate stage that is several stories high and has a facade with niches. ... the structure is a single unit connecting the audience, the stage, and the stage building.

The fall of the Byzantium in 1453 led to the transference of ancient Greek plays and manuscripts to the Western world that, in turn, helped directly influence...?

... the Renaissance.

The Oberammergau Passion play has been performed regularly since 1634 because members of the community promised to stage a play about the life of Christ if they were spared from...?

... the bubonic plague.

Today's theatre festivals are similar to those that began in the Classical Greece because...?

... they help to create a sense of community. ... they remind audiences of the centrality of theatre in our lives.

six elements of drama as observed by Aristotle

1) PLOT: The arrangement of dramatic events. 2) CHARACTER: The people represented in the play. 3) THOUGHT: The ideas explored. 4) LANGUAGE: The dialogue and poetry, 5) MUSIC: The music in the play. 6) SPECTACLE: The scenery and other visual elements.

mystery plays

Also called cycle plays. Short dramas of the Middle Ages based on events of the Old and New Testaments and often organized into historical cycles.

Who wrote Lysistrata?

Aristophanes

Old Comedy

Classical Greek comedy that pokes fun at social, political, or cultural conditions and at particular figures. - ex: Socrates - modern ex: Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show - satire underlined by fantastic + improbable plots

liturgical dramas

Early medieval church drama, written in Latin and dealing with biblical stories.

New Comedy

Hellenistic Greek and Roman comedies that deal with romantic and domestic situations.

chorus

In ancient Greek drama, a group of performers who sang and danced, sometimes participating in the action but usually simply commenting. In modern times, performers in musical play who sing and dance as group. - usually represented ordinary citizens - reacted like audience, audience could identify w/ them - often gave bg info - represented moderate balance btwn extreme behaviors of principal characters - often offered philosophical observations, drew conclusions abt what happened in play

trilogy

In classical Greece, three tragedies written by the same playwright and presented on a single day; they were connected by a story or thematic concerns.

parodos

In classical Greek drama, the scene in which the chorus enters, Also, the entranceway for the chorus in Greek theatre.

mansions

Individual scenic units used for the staging of religious dramas in the Middle Ages.

The first major Roman festival, the Ludi Romani, was dedicated to ____________.

Jupiter

amphitheatres

Large oval, circular, or semicircular outdoor theatre with rising tiers of seats around an open playing area; also, an exceptionally large indoor auditorium.

dominus

Leader of a Roman acting troupe. - made financial arrangements, bought dramas from playwrights, hired musicians, obtained costumes

wagon stages

Low platform mounted on wheels or casters by means of which scenery is moved on- and offstage.

Stories one might find at cycle plays might be about what?

Noah's Ark Cain and Abel Adam and Eve (religious)

satyr plays

One of the three types of classical Greek drama, usually a ribald takeoff on Greek mythology and history that included a chorus of satyrs, mythological creatures who were half-man and half-goat. On festival days in Athens, it was presented as the final play following three tragedies. - satiric versions of Greek history + mythology

pantomime

Originally a Roman entertainment in which a narrative was sung by a chorus while the story was acted out by dancers. Now used loosely to cover any form of presentation that relies on dance, gesture, and physical movement without dialogue or speech.

The most notable tragic playwright of the Roman era was _____________.

Seneca

______________ wrote this kind of Roman comedy that emphasized verbal wit rather than slapstick or farce; he wrote Phormio.

Terence

True or False: No one knows how theatre began, and where or when it originated.

True

True or False: The plot of King Oedipus by Sophocles has a climactic structure.

True

True or False: The three great Greek tragic playwrights are Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

True

theatron

Where the audience sat in an ancient Greek theatre.

Spectacular entertainments held in circuses and amphitheatres that were popular with Roman audiences included:

chariot races gladiator battles animal battles

_____________ _____________ like so much else in theatre, got its start in Greek drama, and Sophocles's play in king oedipus is a good example.

climactic structure

While we do not know where or when theatre originated, we do know that many elements related to its origin include what?

costuming ritual or religious ceremonies imitation

The Christian church issued edicts that declared that anyone who went to the theatre instead of the church on holy says would be _____________.

excommunicated

Various elements of theatre were first combined and transformed into theatrical events where?

in ancient Greece

________________ __________ is thought to have originated from priests or choir members who chanted in Latin text from the Bible.

liturgical drama

Rituals performed by the masked Dogon dancers in West Mali reflect strong theatrical elements. These elements include:

masks or costumes music dance

Everyman is what kind of play?

morality play

Contemporary versions of the mystery plays that depict the life of Christ that continue to be staged for large audiences in many parts of the world are called ____________ plays.

passion

The Circus Maximus is now used for:

popular music concerts a public park public celebrations

Unlike their Greek predecessors who built theatres on hillsides, Romans built freestanding theatres in which the seating, the orchestra, the stage house, or _____________, were connected into a single structure.

scaena

True or False: The Golden Age of Greece took place in the second century A.D.

true

Horace

- Roman dramatic criticism based on work of others - "Roman Aristotle" - outlined his theory of correct dramatic technique in Ars Poetic (The Art of Poetry) - argued tragedy & comedy are distinct genres, or types, of drama; tragedy should deal with royalty, comedy should depict common ppl - stressed drama should entertain AND teach a lesson

Plautus

- Roman playwright - based almost all his comedies on Greek New Comedy - dealt w/ domestic situations, i.e. trials + tribulations of romance - characters: recognizable, stock types (most popular: parasite), courtesans, lovers, overbearing parents - most dialogue meant to be sung - farces, use farcical techniques like mistake identity - Roman comic writer who followed Plautus: Terence

Seneca

- Roman playwright - most notable tragic dramatist of Roman period - plays similar to Greek tragedies, but quite distinct - chorus not integral to dramatic action - emphasizes onstage stabbings, murders, suicides - supernatural beings often appear in dramatic action

theatre production in Rome

- Roman production companies differed slightly from those of Greece - Roman festivals under jurisdiction of local gov official who hired acting troupe

Aeschylus

- acknowledged master of trilogy - first important Greek dramatist, thus first important Western dramatist - best-known of his trilogies: Oresteia (458 B.C.E.) - Oresteia: saga of Agamemnon - added second actor to create dramatic exchange between characters

Sophocles

- built on dramatic form that Aeschylus had begun - raised number in chorus to 15 - added third actor; enormous flexibility - particularly adept at dramatic construction - ex: King Oedipus aka Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Colosseum

- built to house many of the Romans' popular entertainments - now an popular modern tourist attraction

Golden Age

- era: classical period - of Greece - fifth century B.C.E. in Athens, Greece - outstanding achievements in politics, philosophy, science, arts (incl. theatre)

Greek theatre

- intimately bound w/ Greek religion (based on worship of group of gods) - annual festivals held in honor of gods, theatre became central feature of certain Greek festivals

Euripides

- more of a rebel - considered most "modern" of the three dramatists - sympathetic portrayal of female characters, increased realism, mix of tragedy w/ melodrama + comedy, skeptical treatment of gods

Rome

- recognized for practical achievements: law, engineering, military conquest - theatre focused on comedy + other popular entertainments, comparable to movies + tv + rock concerts

theatre in Rome

- strongly influenced by Greeks (like in sculpture + architecture) - developed own form of popular comedy - also influenced by Etruria (civilization nw of Rome, flourished 650-450 B.C.E.)

The Artists of Dionysus may be thought of as the ancient equivalent of today's...?

... Actor's Equity Association

elements of theatre

1) storytelling 2) imitation - important part of religious observances + rituals - ex: ritual w/ god Osiris in ancient Egypt

orchestra

A circular playing space in ancient Greek theatres; in modern times, the ground-floor seating in a theatre auditorium.

Thespis

A performer customarily credited with transforming these songs into drama in the sixth century B.C.E. by stepping out of the chorus and becoming an actor. - reciting story -> impersonating character, engaging in dialogue w/ members of chorus - contribution reflected in term "thespian"

City Dionysia

A spring festival in Athens, honoring the god Dionysus, incorporated tragic drama in 534 B.C.E. and comedy about 487 B.C.E. - festival lasts several days; 3 days for tragedies, time set aside for 5 comedies - satyr plays also performed - few days after festival: awards given, festival operation reviewed by representative body, ppl who behaved improperly/disrespectfully judged + penalized

myth

A story or legend handed down from generation to generation. - certain myths have a strong hold bc they seem to sum up view of human relationships - try to explain problems, catastrophes, opportunities life presents to individuals - Greece had multitude, furnished stories for Greek drama

thespian

A synonym for "performer" or "stage performer." From Thespis, who is said to have been the first actor in ancient Greek theatre.