1453 Byzantium falls to the Turks

› The scripts saved by Byzantine scholars are

taken to Italy.

People start reading them

People start writing more plays like them.

1486 – De Architectura is rediscovered

and republished

› Roman Text on scene design

Called Architettura

FOUR MAIN POINTS

› Rectangular Room

› Stage at the King’s eye level

› Angle Wings and Backdrop

› Only need three sets

Comedy (curved lines)

Tragedy (straight lines)

Pastoral (outdoor scenes)

Three ways to change scenery

› Periaktoi

› “Book Flaps”

› Groove system

Replaced by “Chariot & Pole” system

Flying (of scenery and people)

Trap Doors

Fire & Smoke

› “Why do so many theatres burn down?”

Water Effects

› Naumachia

Curtains (roll up, not fly up)

Lights

› Lights can be directed, blocked, or colored

1. Plays must be believable

2. Plays must teach a lesson

3. Plays must be about normal people

doing normal things

4. Plays must have purity of genre

5. Unities of Time, Place, Action

6. Plays must have five acts.

La Cassari by Ariosto› Comedy based on Roman plot

La Mandragola by Nicolo Machiavelli› One of the best known playwrights of this era

› First Italian comedy with an ORIGINAL story

Sofonisba by Trissino› Rewrite of Greek Tragedy

Orbecche by Geraldi Cinthio› Based on writings of Seneca

Pastoral or The Faithful Shepherd by Jean Baptiste Guarini› Pastorale

Possibly the first two operas:

› Dafne by Rinuccini

› Orfeo by Monteverde

Commedia a Soggetto (Subject)

› Has an actual plot

Commedia Erudita (Learned)

› School Plays

Commedia del’Arte (of the Professional)

› Masked Performances by professional actors

› Created in 1500, popular until 1750!

Stock characters (same general characters

every time.)

› 2 to 4 Innamoriti – Young lovers

› 4 to 6 Old Men

Pantalone – Old man in baggy pants

Capitano – Military officer

Dottore – Doctor/Lawyer/Wise man

› 2 to 4 Zanni – Wacky servants/tricksters

Some actors have characters named for

them

› Arlecchino (Harlequin)

› Brighella (Arlecchino’s sensible friend)

› Fantesca (female servant)