Renaissance Theatre History

Renaissance Drama (1500 – 1700 CE)

Renaissance means rebirth of classical knowledge.

Italy: Known more for stage equipment and

scenery than great plays. Ideas from Greek and Roman period blended

to develop perspective paintings and colored lights.

Continued… Street comedy started

(Commedia Dell’Arte: improvised comedy: no script.) Troupes:

Acting companies traveled from town to town presenting these comedies.

Had fixed or stock characters: Identified by costumes and masks (doctor, maid, clown,

male servants). 15th and 16th Centuries developed interludes: one

act farces.

Continued… Stock characters: - Harlequin- clown with diamond outfit - Pierrot- lovelorn and moody - Columbine- flirtatious and pretty - Pantalone- baggy trousers- gullible father or fool Characters all wore half-masks Popular across Europe- especially in France with the

playwright- Moliere’

Continued… A few works were serious, and some pastoral, but most

were comic. The acting appears to have been natural though the actors

needed good entrance and exit lines as well as repartee. Actors required great skill, physical dexterity, and timing,

since much of humor was visual. Actors in commedia also had to dance, sing, and do

acrobatics. Commedia dell’arte introduced women into the theatre as

equals.

France (late 1600s): Returned to ideas of Aristotle:

Greek philosopher (considered first literacy critic). Three unities:

-One action -One day -One place

Plays portraying heroes were popular. After French Revolution, Commedia Francaise established

(comedies and farces). Led to the development of French professional theatre. Theatre further developed by the government under direction of Louis

XIV (great supporter of the arts). Famous playwrights:

Moliere and Racine

Moliere Racine

Moliere• greatest writer in France• changed his name to protect family from

disgrace of theatre connections• acted in the commedia dell’arte• wrote satires- humorous and caustic themes• died on stage from TB while in the show

THE IMAGINARY INVALID

Next Week: Elizabethan Theatre