Drama Final
mom AD
Consumed with the material world Sadistic Controlling Entitled
"That's strike two"
Cory enters as his father grabs Rose by the arm. He hits him and knocks Troy down Troy warns him
What types of characters did a Melodrama have?
Well defined heroes and villains Virtuous maiden and unscrupulous landlord
Does Troy like Cory?
Yes- he provides for him and fulfills a patriarchal duty but does not show love or affection as a father
Masque
a form of amateur dramatic entertainment, popular among the nobility in 16th- and 17th-century England, which consisted of dancing and acting performed by masked players.
Commedia dell'arte
a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century and was responsible for the advent of the actresses and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios - very physical. Travelling group, very good actors
The well made play-
a formula for playwriting that virtually guaranteed the box office appeal of intricate, believable plots in which suspense, action and brilliantly composed theatrical moments take precedence over characterization and theme
Pageant wagon
a movable stage or cart used to accommodate the mystery and miracle play cycles of the 10th through the 16th century.
Blank verse
a poem with no rhyme but does have iambic pentameter. This means it consists of lines of five feet, each foot being iambic, meaning two syllables long, one unstressed followed by a stressed syllable.
Aside
a remark made by a character in a play intended for only the audience to hear but no other characters.
Conflict
a struggle between two or more forces that creates a tension that must be resolved
Kathakali
a stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion.
Anachronism
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
Soliloquy
an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers
Motif
an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work
Humanism
an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems. ((a Renaissance cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought.))
Deus ex machina
an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel
fiends
carribean. Bolom- bridge between human and diabolical Aborted or dead fetus Little man Werewolf Diablesse
Poor theater
o Jerzy Grotowski Theater was poor in contrast to the rich Used preexisting texts but interpreted them differently. Not a lot of props. Physical language (body)
Hanimichi
A long, raised platform that runs, left of center, from the back of the theater, through the audience, to connect with the main stage.
Spirit cult performances
A medium thought to be possessed by spirits assumes a character while in a trance Strong dramatic interaction between the medium and the audience. Drinking, dancing and dialogue mark the ceremony The spirit is called a shave. The medium takes on four main people - an old slave, a native, a temptress, and a trickster
Director
A person who directs the making of a film or play
Improvisation
A piece of music, drama, etc. that is created without preparation
Closet dramas
A play that is not intended to be performed onstage; only read to oneself or to a group
Theme
A play's attempt to prove a thesis or set forth an opinion (1 of 6 elements of drama)
What did Troy ask for from the commissioner?
A promotion to become a truck driver
Mirror room How do actors use it?
A room with a bunch of mirrors where the actors wear masks and stare at themselves to get in tune with the masks Concentrate on their role before going on; try to strengthen their presence
Limelight
A sharp jet of flame focused against a block of limestone 1816
What was "line of business?"
A specific part that actors are hired for (like a niche)
Arena stage
A stage surrounded by the audience (roman coliseum)
Proscenium acts as ...
A window into dramatic action
What are trademark elements of Albee's work?
Absurdism,inverted social exchanges, violation of decorum, strong women, weak men, self-cancelling statements, lengthy monologues, non-sequiturs. Critique society.
What is the climax of the play?
Act 2 scene 4 when Troy and Cory have it out. Cory confronts Troy about the baby/affair and how the house should really belong to Gabe, not him. Troy disowns Cory and kicks him out of the house, they fight (Troy wins), and then Troy calls for death to come get him.
What was the makeup of Spanish theater companies?
Acting companies (Garnachas) had 6-8 performers and included women. Repertory included four comedias, three auto sacramentales and many entremeses (short plays).
Playwright Edward Albee
Adopted; characters like himself. Trademark elements - inverted social exchanges, violation of decorum, strong women, weak men, self-cancelling statements, lengthy monologues, non-sequiturs. Critique society. Trademark elements Inverted social exchanges Non- sequiturs Violation of decorum Self canceling statements Lengthy stories/ monologues
Who was Daddy Rice or T.D. Rice?
African American minstrel show performer. Used vernacular speech, song and dance. First known performer to create Jim Crow dance based on observance of a crippled slave
What was the first African American theater?
African Grove Theater (1820-1821) Started by William Alexander Brown it was located in downtown NYC.
when did costume design become prevalent?
1840
Pointing
Speech delivered directly to the audience
Suspense
Steadily built throughout the play
Mrs. Baker AD
Stereotypical society matron Observer / audience Complicit in abuse of bumble
boarders
Stereotypical society matron Observer / audience Complicit in abuse of bumble
Japanese word for festival-
matsuri " to be near a god or sacred thing"
Rasa
means emotion. Indian classical drama.
African American Theater
o Famous playwrights August Wilson Lorrain Hansberry Suzan lori parks Amir Baraka
Plot
the sequence of events within a play (includes rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution)
Scrim-
thin material through which light can pass
Ritualized enactments
"Raindance" Contain magic
AD How are the "normal" rules of decorum broken in Albee's world?
(Decorum - behavior in keeping with good taste) Mrs. Barker undresses. Mommy suggests to Barker to cross her legs. Barker calls their apartment unattractive. Barker was eavesdropping before daddy opened the door. Daddy forgets why they called her to their house. They all respond positively to insults except Grandma and sometimes Mommy.
Absurdist drama
(ex: the American dream) World is meaningless. We create meaning. Communication is impossible. Characters are symbols of world at large
How did these events affect his relationship with his sons?
- He expects his sons to be just as independent as he was at that age - Disrupts his emotional attachment to them
Fences Themes
- how one's past affects their future - importance of family - The American Dream - personal and cultural history How one survives the past affects the future. History - personal and cultural. Doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Racism and stereotypes. Motifs: Death and Baseball, Seeds and Growth, Blues (melancholy song created by blacks), Family/marriage, Fathers/sons
canary symbol
- symbolic of imprisoned souls conservative art of Eva Societal roles
Derek Walcott
-Born in St. Lucia -Struggled with tension around Euro-centered education and desire to create theater that represented his native West Indies -Trinidad Theater workshop -Won noble prize 1992
What themes and ideas tend to dominate naturalistic plays?
-Everyone is a product of hereditary and the environment -Like a documentary film without editing -Darker side of life -Lower class -Social issues: sexuality, poverty The plots are described as dark and gloomy because characters are trapped in world with no escape
Who is Gabe? Why does Troy feel guilty about using Gabe's check?
-Gabe is Troy's brother. metal plate in head from WW2 injury -Gabe receives the checks because of his disability- he needs them, and Troy uses i to pay for the house
What do the symbols in AD represent?
-Mommy: materialistic, sadistic, controlling -Daddy: Weak, ineffective, infantile -Grandma: Albee, the director, social commentator -Mrs Baker: Stereotypical matron, complicit with abuse, audience -Young Man: Hollow, Empty, American Dream -Boxes/lunch box: Our obsession with appearance even though there's nothing inside -New hat: desperateness to fit in -The operation: the elimination of originality/ambition for conformity -The bumble: The American dream being destroyed, America is losing its vision of the American Dream, Our impatience (were not willing to work for things to get good we just try and fix the bad parts immediately and when its not good we ask for our "money back"
Differences between how Troy and Rose view the lottery
-Rose likes to play and thinks good things can come from it- Pope example -Troy thinks it is a waste of time and hates that Rose does it -Troy is cynical/pessimistic and Rose is a dreamer
Fences Motifs
-family- fathers, sons, marriage -seeds and growth -death/baseball - The Blues AUGUST WILSON REALISM
Fences Symbols
-fences- literal and figurative- keep people in and keep people out -trains- freedom, new start -The Devil- Troy's struggle wit life, always bringing news of death Trains (trains represent the coming or arrival of a major change in a character's life) Fences (the characters lives change around the fence-building project which serves as both a literal and a figurative device, representing the relationships that bond and break in the arena of the backyard). Symbolic of things left undone - marriage, relationship with Alberta, parenting of Lyons. The Devil (Troy's association of the Devil as a harbinger of death comes to represent his struggle to survive the trials of his life). House symbolic of pride and shame. Only reason he could get a house was because of the money he got from Gabe's head surgery (disability checks).
What is the lesson Troy tries to teach Cory when they talk about TV?
-how to prioritize and taking care of the family, putting his needs before wants
What theatrical conventions does black African theater use?
-most is presentational -narrators, storytellers and praise guide the action -actors frequently play multiple roles and address the audience directly. -the chronicle the history and concerns of the audience -the audience is free to respond verbally -song, dance and poetry are used freely -both scripted and improvised performances -traditional and contemporary masks -simple setting and selective costuming bc low budget
What are the passages into manhood?
-when Troy finds out his father wanted to have sex with his girlfriend - when Cory hits his father Rejecting your father and the life that comes with him.
" Come on little brother. And you , little creatures. Ti-Jean must go on. Here's a bundle of sticks that Old wisdom has forgotten. Together they are strong, Apart they are all rotten. God look after the wise, and look after the strong, But the fool in his folly will always live long"
...
The Acts of the grand masquerade
1. Act one - characters from island folklore are brought to life. Many are demonic, others satiric. 2. Act two - presents traditional masks such as the wild indians, clowns, midnight robbers. 3. Act three - introduces the big bands for which Trinidad is famous 4. Act four - devoted to historical pageantry, a blend of past events, fantasy and imagination in which islanders imitate heroes. 5. Final act - an enormous, spontaneous street dance, songfest and mimed combat.
What are the three principle roles in Kabuki theater?
1. Aragoto- exaggerated movement and speech 2. Wagato- realistic speech and movements 3. Onnagata- male portrays woman
Gestures in Kabuki theater
1. Mie - frozen 2. Tobiroppos - exit dance 3. Michivuki - journey scene - shows characters dancing or laughing while travelling
What two important virtues in Japanese culture are reflected in Noh Theater?
1. Yugen - mysterious beauty; a mood of quietness, meditation and gratification. 2. Rani - the sublime; a feeling of ecstasy and exaltation produced by exceptional artistry
How old was Troy when he left home?
14
How and when did Kabuki develop?
1500s Developed from temple dances
Spain's Golden Age of Drama
1590-1681 17th century NOT BOUND BY NEOCLASSIC RULES
The Siege of Rhodes
1656 Davenant proscenium arch wing and shutter setting ( five scene changes!)
when women were allowed on the english stage
1660
When did actresses appear on British stage?
1660 - Nell Gwynn She was a cross-dresser
When did restoration take place?
1660-1700
Comedy of manners
17th century Concerned with the manners of society Moliere was influenced by com media dell'arte 1. About upper class love lives 2. Repartee - witty dialogue. Verbal fencing. 3. Fops and dandies - violated social norms and mores 4. Emphasis on fashion, social behavior and speech. Audience Comedy of manners depends on the audience who was primarily upper class. Dramatist focused their work on their lives. Themes - social status, adultery, betrayal, financial status.
Nell Gwynne
17th century Mistress of Charles II and first actress
Neoclassicism
18-19th century An attempt to emulate the classical attitudes towards art
Meiningen Players
1826-1914 Designed costumes, lifelike scenery Worked for ensemble acting - performances by a group of actors where the group is more important than the individual
Andre Antoine
1858-1943 Founder of Theatre Libre in Paris Emphasized naturalistic acting (Miss Julie) His founding principles included: 1. Realistic environments 2. Ensemble acting 3. Directors authority Produced controversial plays
Stanislavsky
1863-1938 Co-founder of Moscow Art Theater Worked with Anton Chekhov Created a method for training actors in pursuit of "truthful behavior"
David Garrick
18th century Famous actor of Drury lane Developed sentimental comedy Ushered in more naturalistic style of acting
Poetic realism
1904 - Ireland - Lady Gregory and John Synge Created drama with the peasant dialogue of Ireland. Dialogue that was distinctive, poetic and colorful. Rising of the moon.
little theaters
1915- The Provincetown Players was created with Eugene O'Neill and Susan Glaspell.
The Group
1947. Lee Strasberg was one of the best known teachers. Adapted Stanislavski's system of acting into an " American Method" Marlon Brando Al Pacino Marilyn Monroe Ellen Burstyn Paul Newman Robert DeNiro Odets's career is bound up with the rise of the Group Theatre. In 1931, the Group Theatre burst onto the boards of New York, bringing a new style of acting to the American stage. Inspired by Stanislavsky and the Moscow Art Theatre, the Group emphasized ensemble work, rehearsing for months to create performances in which character, text, and theme interacted not as autonomous pieces, but as an intertwined, cohesive unit. Their detailed examinations of character and tightly knit ensemble elevated the craft of American acting.
The American Dream
1960 - Critiquing the middle class and values. Names of characters are archetypes. Grandma - director, social commentator. Barker - audience, complicit in destruction of bumble. Young man - American dream, lonely, superficial. Symbols, lunch box, gift boxes, the elderly, the operation, the tv, bumble.
black arts movement
1965- 1982
Edwin Booth
19th century American actor. Brother of John Wilkes Booth. Realistic drama. Had his own company.
Sarah Bernhardt
19th century French actress. Known for her extravagant behavior; very melodramatic. Slept in a coffin in order to connect with her tragic characters. Played Hamlet and made one of the earliest silent films.
Edmund Kean
19th century Shakespearean actor. Remembered for his portrayal of Shakespeare's tragic heroes.
Ira Aldridge
19th century actor who left America and became famous for playing Shakespeare's great tragic characters. Free African American.
What was the size of a typical company in Paris?
8-15 actors
What type of set was most popular during this time period (19th century-turn of the 20th century)?
A box set
What has Rose always wanted for her family?
A fence- wants to build it in order to keep Troy "in"
Claptrap
A gimmick done by an actor to garner applause Ex: David Garrick had a "fright wig" in Hamlet and when he saw his father's ghost, the wig rose up off of his head
Surprise
A letter opened at a critical moment
grandmom AD
Albee The director Social commentator
Who is Paul Green and how is he connected to UNC?
American playwright who wrote about life in NC--he won the pulitzer prize for drama in 1921--studied at UNC and was a part of the Carolina Playmakers
Rasa
An emotional state or mood
Rake
Anti heroin restoration comedies 17th century
What playwright is associated with Constantine Stanislavski's theater company?
Anton Chekhov
scene 6 paper flowers
Apartment completely destroyed. Eva - practically voiceless The Hake creates some language Renames himself " Ukelele ,the simba warrior"
Apron
Area in front of proscenium arch was equal in size to the stage behind the arch; provided an intimacy between actor and audience
latin american theater
As explorers came to Americas ( 1492) religious rites with theatrical elements are present. spectacular Rituals sometimes included blood sacrifice- ( deeply religious rite not violent) 1526- liturgical plays performed in Mexico city 1520's -temporary theaters are in Lima, Peru 18th century- Spanish -American drama modeled after French neoclassical plays. 19th century- modeled after European Romantic drama 20th century- socially relevant , realistic drama
Noh theater
Balance on seeking harmony with the natural world
What metaphor does Troy use for life?
Baseball and strikes
Nakata
Based on traditional mythology or history
Gros-jean -
Becomes impatient with task of counting leaves in cane field and catching fireflies. Devil calls him " out of name". Refusing to recognize his name is an attempt to erase Gros-Jean or eliminate him. He expects the planter/ colonizer to acknowledge him.
Costume Changes
Began to accurately reflect the period of the drama around 1840
Acting (out class definition)
Believable behavior under given circumstances
What is a benefit and who profits from it?
Benefits are yearly performances dedicated to one actor who would keep all the profits
How did lighting affect the costumes?
Better lighting made it possible for the audience to see the actors more clearly, so more detailed costumes that more accurately reflected the time period of the play were needed.
Village and community theater
Black Africans seeking to restore their culture have revitalized popular theater. The township plays of South Africa are the best-known forms of community-created theater.
Paper Flowers by Egon Wolf plot
Bobby helps Eva carry her bags up. When she tries to pay him and get him to leave he says people are gonna kill him. He's apparently been watching her and thinks she's the type of person that would help him. He's staring at her and overall being creepy af. He's super nice to her (even if a lil weird) but when she leaves he changes and becomes aggressive. He kills her bird and destroys her apartment by the end and manipulates her into buying him stuff and being cool with him just destroying all her stuff. In the end they have like a mock marriage Eva is wearing a wedding dress that Bobby destroyed and made again with scraps of his suit/furniture they both b lookin ridiculous
Paper Flowers by Egon Wolf characters
Bobby the Hake Eva
ti-jean and his brother
British colonized West indies- early 1600's Toussaint L' Ouverture - led successful slave rebellion Constant upheaval, rebellion and blood shed in fight for freedom Slavery ended in 1833 Ti-Jean blends African storytelling and European dramatic form.
Trinidad Slaves Freed (1834)
Celebration of role reversal: Men as animals Chaos instead of order Poor portray the rich Comic spirits reign Celebration of deliverance See text (739) for details of Grand masquerade Carnival is inclusive. Brings audience and performer together
How do acting styles begin to change in this period?
Change in acting styles from presentation to representational. Representational being acting with a 'fourth wall' separating the actors from the audience and Presentational being more interactive where the actors are obviously aware of the audience's presence)
Puppet theater (aka Joruri)
Chilamatsu's plays were about suffering of middle class and emotional longing Suicide plays (which were eventually banned) Bunraku
Spanish Stage
Closer to english stage Open platform Proscenium arch was introduced at court
What are popular themes in restoration comedies?
Comedies portraying the affairs (sexual or otherwise) of the well-to-do who sought favor at Charles's Court Themes: social status, financial status, adultery, and betrayal
Romanticism
Common people become saviors of the nation. Passion and feeling are valued over reason and order. Embracing freedom was a big aspect of this type of drama. Returning to nature.
Why did designers merge in the 19th century?
Costumes began to reflect the time period that the play was set in, so designers needed to reflect the context of the play. Also, better lighting demanded better scenery and costumes
When did the move to musicals happen and why?
Creole show 1891- show beauty of black women - singing and dancing. In Dahomey - Williams and Walker musical - The determination to redefine image led to musical revues created by African Americans
What are breech roles?
Crossdressing; breeches were historically worn by men
Grand masquerade
Dates back to 1866 Dominates the final two days of the Carnival Maskers are transformed into possessed spirits Begins on a Monday Drum dance competitions are held There is a masquerade king (comical dances in a horse costume) and queen (drag - man dressed as a women) There is a mack execution of the king in the end
Comedy of intrigue
Death with romance and adventure
Other technical changes...
Designers began to research the period of the play Good lighting demanded better scenery and costumes
The director
Due to emerging complexity he fulfilled a need; bring vision together
What is the significance of Emperor Ming Huang in Chinese theater?
Formal theater began with this emperor. Tang emperor who gave professional acting troupes his royal sanction and established a training school at his palace in Chang-an
Unity of time, place and action
Element of Greek tragedy
How was it different than the Elizabethan audience?
Elizabethan audience enjoyed the play of language and rhetoric in plays while the Restoration audience enjoyed comedies portraying the affairs of each other
Who was the creator of this formula (well made play)?
Eugene Scribe from France, went off of sophocles
How are European immigrants treated differently than the descendants of African slaves?
European immigrants have more social and economic mobility
scene 2 paper flowers
Eva acknowledges Hake as an artist. Conservative art vs. passionate art Hake has begun to disrupt the apartment. Eva forgets the class distinction. What is the physical relationship between the two of them? How does The Hake attempt to dominate Eva? Manipulates written word into flowers
What is the Saturday ritual? How does this change?
Eventually Troy ends up drinking by himself as he loses his friends -The family works on chores around the house, working on the fence -Troy gets promoted and it isolates him from the community- he is unable to see family and friends as often
Comedies
Evolved from simple enactments or masquerades Actors painted with clay or ash Portray the social aspects of village life
What role does spectacle play in the popularity of melodrama?
Exaggeration of the spectacle is important. Secret passageways, trap doors. Scenery drew people into the theater because middle-class audiences were eager to escape into the magical illusions.
Exposition
Explain what is going on and one or two surprises/secrets
Paper Flowers
Explores the revolutionary spirit among the poor of Latin America The complacency of the middle class regarding the poor conflicts include Battle of the sexes Battle between rational behavior and raw passion Rich vs. poor Theme- a new world order can only emerge from the destruction of the old world order
The well made play had what 5 elements?
Exposition Surprise Suspense Climax Denouement
Heroic tragedies
Extraordinary characters who undertook extraordinary deeds Themes: love, honor, and lots of death
Carbon Arc
First electric light Electricity arcs between two electrodes
Where i Cory coming from when he enters for the first time?
Football practice
How did Noh theater evolve?
From agricultural, religious and folk dances sponsored by the Buddhist temple at the ancient cities of Nara and Kyoto
Technical Changes
Gas jets: -lights could be dimmer in the theater (house coulee be gradually or completely darkened) -selective lighting could heighten emotional effect -actors moved off the apron and deeper in to the set -lighting was placed between scenery and behind proscenium pillars; this resulted in actors being more visible gas lighting (1792) 1879-edison's incandescent lamp electricity 1900
Peking opera
Generic term for the populist Chinese theater, originating in the 18th century, which uses song, dance, and non-realistic means to tell melodramatic stories; the national theater of Chinaqwqaas
What is mudras?
Gestures (help induce an emotional response in the audience)
Six types of Noh plays
God (celebrate religious events) Warrior (slain warrior whose ghost returns to relieve human suffering) Women/wig plays(acted by men in wigs) Living person pieces (deal with madness, obsessions and passion) Demon (protagonist is a supernatural figure and both good and evil) Farces
Chikamatsu
Greatest playwright for Joruri
Ti-Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott What are the main characteristics of each brother?
Gros-Jean: relies on his strength Ti-Jean: does not expect anyone to acknowledge his name or respect his intelligence. Focused on tricking the devil into rage. He has endurance, vision, humility, and courage. Mother- defenseless/ helpless West Indian Mi- Jean- middle son. Intellectual, fails to heed the advice of nature ( frog, cricket, bird) depends on intellect
Who formalized Noh theater?
Nanami and Zeami A father and son
expressionism
Has many forms and has no simple definition. It is an alternative to realistic drama. Stage might be barren or flooded with light Poetic in language and effect
Expressionism
Has many forms and no simple definition Alternative to realistic drama Stage might be barren or flooded with light. Poetic in language and effect Shows the mind and heart of the character visually 1944 Tennessee Williams "The Glass Menagerie", often called a memory play
Why doesn't Troy want Cory to play football? What is Troy's fear?
He is fearful that Cory will get denied playing in the big leagues because he is black, just like what happened to Troy
What news does Troy have for Rose?
He is having a child with another woman
Mi-Jean
He loses battle with the devil because he also expects to recognized for his intelligence. When the planter/ colonizer refuse to do that he gets angry and is terminated.
Ti-Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott Why does Ti-Jean succeed?
He tricks the devil into rage---he has humility and is willing to use his common sense to ask for help. He asks the Bolom what the Devil wants.
Ti- Jean.
He tricks the devil into rage. Ti-Jean does not expect the planter/ colonizer to acknowledge his name or respect his intelligence. He uses the innate skills of his true self to conquer the devil. Moves to action- ( seeks Bolom to find out what he wants) Shows humility- grieves for his brothers deaths and for their punishment in hell. Seeks knowledge/ uses intuition Discovers devils tail Castrates goat/ cooks the goat Burns the cane/ Makes the devil feel anger, rage, and human weakness.
Why does Rose say Gabe was arrested?
He was disturbing the peace
What does Rose want Troy to admit about his baseball experience and why he didn't make it to the majors?
He was too old by the time blacks were integrated into the Major Leagues
Storytelling performances
Healer or griot improvises a story
Farces
Highly exaggerated; coarse comedy; improbable
Masquerades
Honor the dead Enormous masks and large oufits
Rising action
Important events leading up to the climax
Lazzi
Improvised comic scene or dialogue in commedia dell'arte
Simple enactments
Improvised performance of hunting animals
What do we mean by the 4th wall?
In the 19th century, the apron shrunk and the front doors leading to it disappeared. That change reinforced the practice of treating the proscenium opening as the imaginary "4th wall" of a room. The actors can't see the audience, but the audience can see the actors
baseball
In the yard there is a baseball bat and a ball of rags tied to a tree. Troy uses baseball terms and images as a way of explaining his battle with death his quarrel with Cory his reasons for cheating
Paper flowers setting
In this play the things we see are as important as what we hear. What happens to Eva's apartment over the course of the play? How does The Hake destroy Eva? Why doesn't Eva leave him? How do the two characters differ as artists?
Surrealism
Interpretation of experience through the mind of a dreamer. The unconscious mind. Distorted reality for emotional purposes.
According to legend, how was theater created in India?
It was created by the gods to instruct the people. Brahma, the Hindu deity conceived drama to give enlightenment through pleasure to humans and other gods. He appeared to the mortal priest Bharata and instructed him in the ways of theater.
What was important to Troy's father? Why didn't he leave?
It was important to his father to provide for his family; his sense of duty to them prevented him from leaving
Example of black box/flexible staging
Keenan Theater
Early Modern Europe
Late 17th-18th century drama - royal drama Theater in England - King Charles II Theater in France - King Louis XIV
Climax
Late in the play, secrets are revealed, hero confronts antagonist and wins
Who was the first playwright and critic to examine playwriting in Chin?
Li Yu (1611)
Theater of the absurd
Life is meaningless. Only meaning is what humans put on it. WWI and WWII
What is baseball a metaphor for?
Life-realtes every event in his life to baseball Death- explains his battle with death -the quarrel with Cory -his reason for cheating
Caribbean drama focuses on:
Local social conditions Language Ethnic heritage
How did the theater space change in the 17th century?
Long narrow space Seats on three sides Indoors Artificial lighting (candles, chandeliers) Open year round Audiences are small and will talk back Costumes - contemporary clothing Entire stage was raked to improve sightlines Audiences are small and would talk back. Indoor lighting was candles. Costumes - contemporary clothing. Receding space, painted backdrops, actors could enter/exit stage from wings or in between the drops.
Scenery Changes
Machinery lifted actors from the stage Fly galleries above the stage Scene changes quick
Tropes
Medieval musical embellishment sung as part of the Mass, influential in bringing about the return of theater
Emerging role of the director:
Meiningen Players Andre Antoine Stanislavsky
What designers in this time period moved away from the box set?
Meyerhold - industrial revolution - mimic the robotic moments. Piscator - the use of projections and film on stage. Adolphe Appia and Edward Gordon Craig. Used platforms and levels. Used light for scenic changes and striking effects. Adolphe Appia and Edward Gordon Craig Moved away from the "box set" Used light for scene changes and striking effects Disregarded the "4th wall" Believed a setting should "suggest" not reproduce a locale. Used platforms and levels this was very successful in expressionistic plays.
Caribbean Drama
Mimetic - imitation o 15th century - Spain observed the ritualistic performances o 16th - activities ceased o 17th-18th - imported theatrical events from Europe o 19th - Caribbean dramatic voice emerges
What was the name of Constantine Stanislavski's theater company?
Moscow Art Theater
Melodrama
Most popular. Twists and turns in the plot, strong emotional appeal, and decisive endings. Dramas using background music to alter the mood. No complex dialogue. Plot over character. Simple morality over complex issues
Eleonora Duse
Moved away from using set poses to convey emotions to finding emotional truth
What are "little theaters"?
Much more intimate, small theaters where the audience can interact with the play
epic theater
Multiple scenes Overlapping scenes provide juxtaposition and contrast.
What are the two forms of Sanskrit drama?
Nakata Prakarana
Why were the theaters rebuilt?
New theaters allowed for new realistic scenic designs 1. receding space 2. painted backdrops 3. actors could enter/exit the stage from the wings or in between the drops
How does Noh Theater differ from Kabuki Theater?
Noh focuses on realism while Kabuki does not. The Noh theater is more poetic and more abstract. Kabuki theater relies on special effects and decor
Folk drama
Noncommercial rural theater and pageantry based on folk traditions and local history. Montgomery T. Gregory and Alain Locke developed the drama program at Howard University.
Proscenium stage
Normal looking stage with a proscenium arch framing the stage (memorial hall)
Auto
One act play
Comedy of humors
One trait overshadows all others
What 6 things was neoclassicism based on?
Order Control Decorum Verisimilitude Reason Harmony
Realism
Ordinary people in ordinary situations Not as pessimistic as naturalism Forced comfortable audiences to watch psychological and physical problems of the middle class. Ex. A Doll House
Kabuki
Originally performed by women but women were banned in 1629 Music- shamisen who established rhythms of speech and stimulated the emotions of audience. Stage juts out in audience. Mixture of puppetry, dance, and music. Derived from myth, folktale and history
Classical drama
Origins in dance and relies on mudras to instill rasas in audience
Example of thrust stage
Paul Green Theater
What are patents?
Permission from King Charles to open theaters; he gave two patents to Mr. Killigrew and Mr. Davenant
neoclassical drama playwrights
Pierre Cornell-Le Cid Jean Racine- Phaedra
Chinese theater uses non realistic conventions. What are they?
Places maximum value on the imagination and symbolic expression. Much noisier and "busier" than Western drama. Exaggerated costumes and poses. Scenery is painted in bright colors - even for serious scenes; however, there is a minimum amount of scenery. Rudimentary special effects. Music often consists of banging cymbals and gongs.
Sentimental comedy
Played on the emotions of the audience in order to arouse sympathy for a character
Prakarana
Plays by humans, less exalted themes
Stage 1 in Development of African Drama
Plays in which black Africans attempt to show they have assimilated the culture of the colonists; these dramas show an indebtedness to European dramaturgy
Stage 2 in Development of African Drama
Plays in which the colonized dramatists display an uncertainty about their status and attempt to recover their native past and its forms
Stage 3 in Development of African Drama
Plays that revolt against colonization, both politically and aesthetically. Dramatists purposely employ traditional African theater modes as they write plays designed to rouse the people against colonization
Who attended the theater?
Primarily upper class people.
Who was Constantine Stanislavski?
Producer, director, actor, and co-founder of Moscow Art Theater, worked with Chekhov
Paris Opera
Projector Followspot and several effects using carbon arc 1860
How did little theaters complement the move to realism and naturalism?
Provided a place where commercial success wasn't important, helped develop American voice, helped writers to develop and create new forms of plays
Catharsis
Purging of emotion
Social realism
Racism A Raisin in the Sun
Theaters in France
Raked stages (tilted at an angle so the audience is able to see more of what is going on) Pits (Raked with benches - mid-priced seats) Gallery seating (a structure projecting from one or more interior walls. Cheapest seats. )
Theater of cruelty
Realism Making the audience extremely uncomfortable Cannot pretend that not affected More of a philosophy Antonin Artaud- 1896-1948. He theorized that civilization had made humans sick and repressed. Theatre was to rid humans of this repression and connect us with our instincts. Removed the barrier between actor and audience. Loud screams, groans and grunts, pulsating lights, oversized puppets and props. Theatre in the round- developed in 1930's found favor with Artaud because the audience was never separated from the action.
In general how does theater in Asia differ from western theater?
Realism and psychology are not the main concern Rooted in dance, music, and storytelling Style is presentational rather than representational Characters more archetypal Complexity lies in gestures or masks or movement
What is verisimilitude?
Realism; the appearance of being true or real
What is a box set?
Realistically detailed, three-walled, roofed setting that simulates a room with the 4th wall (the one closest to the audience) removed/implied. Authentic details include doors w/ 3D moldings, windows backed with outdoor scenery, stairways, & at times, painted highlights and shadows
Anagnorisis
Recognition
Representational acting
Refers to a relationship in which the audience is studiously ignored and treated as 'peeping tom' voyeurs by an actor who remains in-character and absorbed in the dramatic action
Presentational acting
Refers to a relationship that acknowledges the audience, whether directly by addressing them, or indirectly through a general attitude or specific use of language, looks, gestures or other signs that indicate that the character or actor is aware of the audience's presence
Denouement
Resolution of the drama, all loose ends are tied up
origins of asian theater
Rites Ceremonies Theatrical events
Three major forms of drama that emerged during this time period:
Romanticism Melodrama The well made play
How has their relationship changed?
Rose is a mother but not a wife anymore Troy is no longer a husband or a father, only a provider.
Sacramentales
Sacraments
contempoary drama
Samuel Beckett, Edward Albee, Eugene Lonesco.
What are drolls?
Secret performances organized during Puritan reign; short versions of full-length plays
How does the news of Alberta's baby affect what Rose wanted in her life?
She becomes more Christian and more involved with the church
What is Troy's reason for his relationship with Alberta?
She makes him feel young and alive and can be himself. He feels as though he has and can succeed around her, and he got bored with Rose
What are the general characteristics of Chinese theater
Simple settings (box and 2 chairs) - used imaginatively by actors and transform into various objects Recognizable characters Costume and makeup are the same Scripts mix dialogue, storytelling and song all together All plays are accompanied by music Masks are colorful and very exaggerated Crime and murder stories Non-realistic Most popular type of theater in the world Peking opera
Black box/flexible staging
Simple space; usually a large square room with black walls and a flat floor; allows for various types of productions
Ceremonial performances
Singing, dancing and beating of drums Ex. The Dogon of West Africa have mock battles, acrobatic dances and a display of weapons meant to teach the people to have respect for their past and also to accept death
What did Constantine Stanislavski contribute to theater?
Social realism
What are auto sacramentals?
Spanish dramatic genre that reached its height in the 17th century Autos were short allegorical plays in verse dealing with some aspect of the mystery of the Holy Eucharist (religious drama) Performed during Corpus Christi festival Combined elements of medieval, morality and mystery plays Not bound by neo classical rules Utilized allegory
Roots of African Drama
Storytelling performances (healer or griot improvises a story) Simple enactments (improvised performance of hunting animals) Ritualized enactments ("raindance"; contain magic) Spirit cult performances (a medium thought to be possessed by spirits assumes a character while in a trance; strong dramatic interaction between the medium and the audience. Drinking, dancing and dialogue mark the ceremony; the spirit is called a shave. The medium takes on four main people - an old slave, a native, a temptress, and a trickster) Masquerades (honor the dead; enormous masks and large outfits) Ceremonial performances (singing, dancing and beating of drums; ex. The Dogon of West Africa have mock battles, acrobatic dances and a display of weapons meant to teach the people to have respect for their past and also to accept death) Comedies (evolved from simple enactments or masquerades; actors painted with clay or ash. Portray the social aspects of village life.)
What are 2 other names for Noh theater?
Suragaku (monkey dance) Dengaku (field dance)
unfinished fence
Symbolic of things left "undone' relates to his baseball career his marriage his relationship with Alberta his parenting of Lyons, Raynell, Cory What is he trying to keep out/ trying to keep in?
Paper Flowers by Egon Wolf What are the symbols, themes and motifs in the play?
Symbols: The canary (Eva's conventional art), paper flowers (Bobby's dominance and control over Eva) Theme: A new world order can only emerge from the destruction of the old world order Conflicts: battle of the sexes, rational behavior vs. raw passion, rich vs. poor, passive vs aggressive Motifs:
Traveling theater companies
Take plays into rural areas to entertain and more importantly to instruct villagers about a variety of social, political and cultural issues
American Dream themes
The American Dream, Language and Violence, Emasculation, Disfiguration and Deformity, Old People and Grandma's Epigrams, Defense, and the Boxes
scene 4 Paper flowers
The Hake "dies" Domination continues The hake's use of language is growing canary dies
scene 5 Paper flowers
The Hake wears tennis outfit Furniture is destroyed Eva is desperate for affection and passion is replacing reason. Eva's language is diminishing Eva's language become ineffective. Eva's compassion/pity for The Hake is discovered.
scene 1 paper flowers
The Hake- seeks Eva out Eva- composed pulled together Setting- ordered, feminine, Canary- symbolic of imprisoned souls conservative art of Eva Societal roles Flirtation How does The Hake's language become a weapon? How does it change? How does he speak to the canary?
fences setting
The Hill in Pittsburg PA Time is 1957- eve of 1960's Before legal freedoms became social realities for African Americans. The description of the setting provides a lot of clues to Troy's character.
Example of a proscenium stage
The Stone Center Theater, memorial hall
Rake
The antihero in comedy of manners
Acting
The art or profession of those who perform in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.
Dramatic Irony
The audience knows something that certain characters are not yet aware of
What info has Rose learned from Miss Pearl?
Troy signed for Gabe to be locked up in the hospital and Troy is receiving half of Gabe's check
Universities
The majority of Africa's most accomplished dramatists have emerged from universities in East Africa. They introduced full theater curriculums in the 1980s (University of Zimbabwe is the most well-known)
Fop
The opposite of a rake; lacking wit and manners; excessive in his behavior
Exposition
The part of a play that fills in things that have already happened so you can make a sense of who's who and why they're doing whatever.
Falling action
The parts of the story after the climax, but before the ending.
What is the Friday ritual?
The ritual is drinking and talking about the week. -Troy and Bono drink gin together -Bono asks Troy about his relationship with Alberta -Lyons asks to borrow money from Troy
Companies
The share system disappeared and was replaced with the contract system
Epic Theater
Theater of alienation. A sequence of actions or episodes in which the dramatic illusion is voided. Constantly reminded that watching a play. Uses stark lighting, bare stages and long discomforting silences. No dark, no realistic scenery. People walking across stage letting audience know that scene is changing. Wanted people to think they could do something about these issues. Uses stark lighting, bare stages, long discomforting silences "Show all the wires" A sequence of actions or episodes in which the dramatic illusion is voided. You are constantly reminded that you are watching a play.
What are the similarities regarding origins of theater in Asia?
Theater originated from rites and ceremonies
Why is it called restoration?
Theatres closed from 1642-1660 because of religious reasons when country was ran by puritans--thought it was sinful and used to speak out against christianity, actors were persecuted Civil War from 1642-1649; Charles I was then beheaded and Puritans ran the country (theaters were closed and dismantled and actors were persecuted during their reign) until 1660, when Charles II was restored to the throne and reopened theaters
Ti-Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott What are the symbols, themes and motifs in the play?
Themes: Man must be ever vigilant in the fight against evil, Evil has been defeated but the fight goes on, Resisting authority in the struggle to survive. symbols: number 3. Holy Trinity, Knowledge (belief, truth and justification). Dancing with the devil - symbolic of political hardships. Devil - white colonizers. Three brothers - people colonized. Four animals symbolize four elements - earth, fire, air and water.
Ti-Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott Why do Gros-Jean and Mi-Jean fail?
They ignore the advice of their mother and of the animals.
What does Troy mean when he comments "You've gotta take the crooked with the straights."?
Things are not all good or bad, you have to take both together
What are the components of neoclassicism?
Though over feeling Strict unity of time/place/action No mixing of comedy/tragedy No chorus No soliloquy No deus ex machina
Ti-Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott What does the devil want?
To feel human rage, anger and weakness
act 1 scene 1 friday ritual
Troy and Bono arrive home and share a pint of gin. They talk of work and we learn Troy is to report to the Commissioners office next week. He has asked "why do you have the white mens driving and the coloreds lifting?" The civil rights issue of equal opportunities is introduced. Rose warns Troy he will "drink himself to death" Troy responds by comparing death to "a fastball on the outside corner" He tells a story of how he wrestled death for three days and won. This story is a metaphor for Troy's life, he has always wrestled with death/ living and when it gets hard he'd "reach way down deep inside myself and find him the strength to do him one better"
What event changes Troy and Rose's marriage?
Troy cheats on her with Alberta, and Alberta is pregnant with his baby
What does Bono mean when he says "Times have changed, Troy. You just came along too early?"
Troy was not able to play major league baseball because he was too old by the time they allowed for black players
Did Paris companies have women performers?
Yes
Who is Alberta?
Troy's mistress Troy is stuck on her because he feels like himself and is successful around her. Wither her he feels like he can go back to his dream. Troy's buxom lover from Tallahassee and Raynell's mother. Alberta dies while giving birth. She symbolizes the exotic dream of Troy's to escape his real life problems and live in an illusion with no time.
What method did Constantine Stanislavski encourage actors to use?
Truthful behavior by using "the Magic IF"
Three significant sources for Contemporary African Drama
Universities Traveling theater companies Village and community theater
Who were Williams and Walker?
Very popular duo. Played before queen. Had hit musical. Bert William became the highest paid actor on Broadway. Some protested.
"Fobs and dandies"
Violated social norms Themes: social status, adultery, betrayal, financial status
dad AD
Weak Ineffective Infantile
scene 3 paper flowers
Wears Eva's bathrobe Cooks the food Dominates her phrase" why should it bother me?" Eva's traditional art is destroyed and replaced with anti art Eva is lonely wants to have an intimate relationship with The Hake. Class distinction can not be erased.
What even changed his relationship with his father?
When he found out that his father wanted to have sex with his girlfriend.
Setting
Where an event takes place
Thrust stage
Where stage breaks through and extends well past the proscenium arch; reaches out into the audience so stage is surrounded on three sides. The Classical Greek Theater and the Elizabethan public theaters used thrust stages.
What was the minstrel show?
White individuals wore blackface, strongly associated with Irish. Used banjos.
What information does Rose want from Troy?
Why he doesn't come home on Fridays
What were the other forms of popular entertainment in 19th century?
Wild west shoes PT Barnum Circus Minstrel shows (American) - White performers mimic blacks
Alienation effect
challenges audience to see a social problem as if for the first time, evaluate the issues, and devise solutions to correct it. Developed by Bertolt Brecht (Rejected the "well made play" He felt realistic drama convinced the audience that problems were solved and did not need to be attacked. ).
Iambic pentameter
commonly used type of metrical line in traditional English poetry and verse drama. The term describes the rhythm that the words establish in that line, which is measured in small groups of syllables called "feet"
AD How does Albee have his character' prevent meaningful communication?
communication doesn't make sense, abrupt changes in subject, insults detract from meaningful communication
"how come you ain't never liked me?" "What law is there say's I got to like you?" " You just scared I'm gonna be better than you, that's all" "that's strike one. Don't you strike out!"
cory to troy, his dad
" We shall meet again Ti-Jean. You and your new brother! The features will change but the fight is still on"
devil
Concept (directors)
director's perception that leads to all critical choices
Thrust stage
extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its upstage end (aka platform stage or open stage)
Stock character
fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Stock characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics.
Mudras
gestures in classical Indian drama
Episodic Drama
has many episodes spread out over long periods of time and a number of locales. This kind of drama has many characters and normally has parallel subplots in addition to the main plot, as in Shakespearean drama
Climax
highest point of tension in the play, where the action taken can't be reversed
Gay and Lesbian Theater
o Long marginalized and excluded from representation in the mainstream playwrights and theater companies formed their own collectives o Tony Kushner - Angels in America
Environmental
o Richard schechner's Dionysus Audience was inspired and invited to join in ritual reenactment of Greek religious orgy. Very physical with audience The living theater o Julian Beck, Judith Melina's Living Theater Paradise Now example
Theater of Images
o Robert Wilson Multimedia dramas that take hours to perform Historical in nature Repetition Evocative images Characters that are cartoonlike.
Applied Drama
o Use of drama in a specific social context and environment. o Doesn't have to take place in conventional theater o Can be based around the audience. o Site-specific o Used in psychodrama an umbrella term for the wider use of drama practice in a specific social context and environment. This practice doesn't have to take place in a conventional theatre space. It can be shared with, or created for, a specific audience, making them the starting point and the driving force for what is often a personal based exploration.
Documentary theater
o Uses whole or partial text from newspapers, interviews, etc. o Text not really altered by playwright o Anna devir smith o Look at it from many points of view o Fire in the mirror
Fop
opposite of a rake in Restoration comedies. Lacking wit and manners. Excessive in his behaviors
Zanni
or Zani is a character type of Commedia dell'arte best known as an astute servant and trickster
Revenge tragedy
popular in England in 16th and 17th century. drama in which the dominant motive is revenge for a real or imagined injury; it was a favourite form of English tragedy in the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras and found its highest expression in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Monologue
presented by a single character, most often to express their mental thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience.
Comedy of manners
realistic, satiric comedy concerned with high society; uses stock characters (Rake is the antihero and Fop is the opposite of the rake, lacking wit and manners). About upper class love lives. Witty dialogue and emphasis on fashion, social behavior and speech.
" I planted a seed and watched and prayed over it. I planted myself inside you and waited to bloom. And it didn't take me no eighteen years to find out the soil was hard and rocky and it wasn't never gonna bloom"
rose saturday morning act 2
wings
scenery painted on the side
Ti-Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott "burn the cane":
significant song because it is an old African slave song Ti-Jean: "Come on little brother. And you, little creatures. Ti-Jean must go on..." Marks the slave rebellion.
Cyclorama-
surrounds the stage
What is the bumble of joy? AD
the bumble of joy is their child, which represents the American Dream: the American Dream is being gutted, losing its sight... remember that they dismembered and took the eyes of the bumble which symbolizes America losing its vision of the "American Dream"
How did the emerging stage machinery reflect the danger, and suspense in melodrama?
treadmills, trapdoors, elevators, and flying devices helped to develop the suspenseful events of train wrecks, horse races, apparitions and disappearances.
"What the hell is she keeping out with it? She ain't got nothing nobody want" "Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you. She loves you"
troy and bono
"you can't change me Pop, I'm thirty-four years old. If you wanted to change me you should have been there when I was growing up"
troy to lyon
Repartee
witty dialogue in Comedy of Manners. 17th century
Dialogue
written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people
