Chapter 14 Context The Renaissance-meaning rebirth 1550 Medieval religious drama ended and the Renaissance took over western Europe Italy and southern Europe embraced the ideas earlier Spain and England were rivals Traits of the new Renaissance Humanism-concern for people and their earthly lives Secularism-advocating of ethical conduct as an end in itself, rather than required to get into heaven; logical systems of thought independent from divine revelation Reformation of the Roman Catholic church Discovery of a whole new world (Marco Polo, Columbus, etc) Constantinople falls More Traits The printing press is introduced The arts became more acknowledged 1600-The Golden Ages of theatre and drama in England and Spain began Freestanding theatres Professional players Paying audiences Expansive plays with complexity The Age of Shakespeare The influential reign of Elizabeth I ( ) Commercial theatres open in London in 1576 Public theatres were outdoors Yard/pit Galleries and lords rooms Tiring house Heavens Traps Hut Musicians gallery Discovery space Audience Not poor or very rich Mostly male Educated enough to understand jokes and allusions Fascination and appreciation for language Style of soliloquies and lyric poetry Practices Small properties were used (stage directions) Columns and doors suggested places Costuming was more important that scenery or spectacle Contemporary dress Masks were rarely used Actors and Acting Acting companies were licensed (helped protect them) Troupes organized into sharing companies- share expenses, profits and responsibilities of production Householders-owned the theatre building Hirelings-hired actors that didnt own a share in the company Actors and Acting Precise style of acting isnt clear Vocal power and flexibility were prized Breath control and verbal dexterity soliloquies, monologues etc. Men acted-no women allowed Actors specialized in certain roles-clowns, tragedian, etc. Plays and Playwrights Shakespeare-38 plays Histories Comedies Tragedies Thomas Kyd-The Spanish Tragedy Christopher Marlowe- Dr. Faustus Techniques for Playwriting Early point of attach Several lines of action- subplots Larger and varied number of incidents-tears and laughter, death and life, love and confrontation Free use of time and place-unfolds across many months and many locations Large number and variety of cast- 30 or more actors Varied Language-lyrical writing, figures of speech, prose, etc. Court Masques Stuart monarchs liked masques-individually performed plays and spectacles presented in royal and noble houses Allegorical stories designed to compliment an individual Elaborate scenes and costumes Ben Jonson was the most significant writer Inigo Jones-introduced major elements of Italiante staging to English courts Stuart Masques and their importance Used Italianate system of staging in the 17 th centurya time when theatres continued to use the medieval staging techniques Close association of masques and monarchy which aided in the closing of theatres English Theatres Close Civil war, church war, disease, government and many other factors lined up to close down the theatres in England Acting was banned, but not musicWilliam Davenant produced operas staging them with the Italianate system The medieval conventions disappeared with the closing of theatres Spanish Golden Age Similar to Englands theatres Latin music dramas Religious plays Comedies and farces Fixed and movable stages Earliest permanent public theatres: Corral del Cruz and Corral del Principe- outdoor theatres with thrust stages (like the Globe) Court theatres-like the masques Women Spain let women act by the 1580s Clergy didnt think it was appropriate Government essentially said women could act with makeup rather than boys While they could act, they were considered immoral and a threat to men Women in the audience had their own entrance and place to view the play Spains Plays & Playwrights Spain is known for its production of 1000s of plays during the Golden Age Lope de Rueda-farces and religious plays Lope de Vega-authored more than 500 plays Pedro Caledron de la Barca: Life Is a Dream most respected Spanish playwright of the Golden Age