Restoration & 18Restoration & 18thth Century Century DramaDrama

1660-1800 A.D.1660-1800 A.D.

Masterpieces of the DramaMasterpieces of the Drama

Where did we leave off?Where did we leave off?

1642: Puritans take over the 1642: Puritans take over the country, and all theatres are closed.country, and all theatres are closed.

1642-1660: Interregnum Period1642-1660: Interregnum Period1660: Restoration of the Monarchy1660: Restoration of the Monarchy

Charles IICharles II

Charles II becomes Charles II becomes kingking

Response to the Response to the puritanspuritans

Reforms to the Reforms to the theater… English theater… English Royal Patent of Royal Patent of 1662-1662- Theater MonopolyTheater Monopoly Women ActorsWomen Actors

Theater MonopoliesTheater Monopolies

Two playhouses Two playhouses given official given official sanction:sanction: Drury Lane TheaterDrury Lane Theater Lincoln’s Inn FieldsLincoln’s Inn Fields

From these two From these two names comes the names comes the term, term, legitimate legitimate theatertheater, which refers , which refers to professional stage to professional stage plays.plays.

Women ActorsWomen Actors

The patent stated:The patent stated: ““All women’s parts All women’s parts

should be performed by should be performed by women” and that plays women” and that plays and acting should be and acting should be considered “not only considered “not only harmless delights but harmless delights but useful and instructive useful and instructive representations of representations of human life.”human life.”

Nell Gwynn “moves Nell Gwynn “moves the passions”the passions”

First Celebrity ActorsFirst Celebrity Actors

Physical Structure of the Physical Structure of the TheaterTheater Audiences seated on floorAudiences seated on floor

Stage is Stage is rakedraked, that is, sloped , that is, sloped upward away from the upward away from the viewers.viewers.

Terms “upstage” and Terms “upstage” and “downstage” develop.“downstage” develop.

Elaborate scenery and Elaborate scenery and mechanical equipment usedmechanical equipment used

Move to the indoors, artificial Move to the indoors, artificial lightlight

Middle-priced tickets were in Middle-priced tickets were in the pit before the the pit before the proscenium-arched stage.proscenium-arched stage.

The first-level boxes against The first-level boxes against the walls were most the walls were most expensive.expensive.

The lowest-priced seats were The lowest-priced seats were in the upper ranges of the in the upper ranges of the balconies.balconies.

Type of Drama…Type of Drama… Coming from an age of Coming from an age of

Puritanism, what do the Puritanism, what do the people want?people want?

Marriage during this time… Marriage during this time… “Marriage of “Marriage of Convenience.”Convenience.”

Comedy of MannersComedy of Manners: : reveal the foibles of the reveal the foibles of the society that watched them. society that watched them. Society enjoyed laughing Society enjoyed laughing at itself.at itself.

Restoration Comedies:Restoration Comedies: Less interested in Less interested in reforming society than in reforming society than in capitalizing on its faults.capitalizing on its faults.

Some of the major players…Some of the major players…

William WycherleyWilliam Wycherley William CongreveWilliam Congreve George FarquharGeorge Farquhar Richard Brinsley Richard Brinsley

SheridanSheridan Oliver GoldsmithOliver Goldsmith

Richard Brinsley SheridanRichard Brinsley Sheridan Born in DublinBorn in Dublin Supposed to study lawSupposed to study law Settled in London and Settled in London and

started writing for public started writing for public theatre… Opening night a theatre… Opening night a flop, but changes the actor flop, but changes the actor and becomes a hit… and becomes a hit… The The RivalsRivals. .

Invests his fortune in a Invests his fortune in a share on Drury Lane. The share on Drury Lane. The Theater burns down, he Theater burns down, he drinks wine outside the drinks wine outside the theater and says, “A man theater and says, “A man may surely be allowed to may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his take a glass of wine by his own fireside .”own fireside .”

Died in PovertyDied in Poverty

Away from England for a Away from England for a while…while… France:France:

Jean Baptiste Poquelin MoliereJean Baptiste Poquelin Moliere Company In Paris, Louis XIV’s Company In Paris, Louis XIV’s

responseresponse The MisanthropeThe Misanthrope The MiserThe Miser The Bourgeois GentlemanThe Bourgeois Gentleman The Imaginary InvalidThe Imaginary Invalid TartuffeTartuffe

Commedia dell’arte:Commedia dell’arte: A form of improvisational theaterA form of improvisational theater Plays partially writtenPlays partially written Professional actors playing Professional actors playing stockstock

characters improvised dialogue to fit a characters improvised dialogue to fit a given scenario.given scenario.

Japan & Kabuki TheaterJapan & Kabuki Theater

Japan:Japan: Peaceful during this period 1603-1868, Peaceful during this period 1603-1868,

so people enter period of “peace time” so people enter period of “peace time” or “leisure time.”or “leisure time.”

1973-1841: Golden Age1973-1841: Golden Age Kabuki Theater and Puppet TheaterKabuki Theater and Puppet Theater Kabuki designed to stimulate the Kabuki designed to stimulate the

massesmasses Elaborate Makeup & DanceElaborate Makeup & Dance Kabuki = “the art of singing and Kabuki = “the art of singing and

dancing”dancing”

Scrubs & KabukiScrubs & Kabuki

Some real Kabuki…Some real Kabuki…

The School for ScandalThe School for ScandalDramatis PersonaeDramatis Personae

Sir Peter Teazle: John D.Sir Peter Teazle: John D. Sir Oliver Surface: Sir Oliver Surface:

OlesiaOlesia Joseph Surface: Joseph Surface:

WoodruffWoodruff Charles Surface: Charles Surface:

EstebanEsteban Crabtree: TomCrabtree: Tom Sir Benjamin Backbite: Sir Benjamin Backbite:

EnasEnas Rowley: EmmaRowley: Emma Moses: CoreyMoses: Corey

Trip: GraceTrip: Grace Snake: Mr. KottSnake: Mr. Kott Careless: EnasCareless: Enas Sir Toby Bumber: Sir Toby Bumber:

DentingerDentinger Lady Teazle: OlesiaLady Teazle: Olesia Maria: JenMaria: Jen Lady Sneerwell: Lady Sneerwell:

KarissaKarissa Mrs. Candour: JessMrs. Candour: Jess