The Renaissance The Renaissance and and

Elizabethan TheatreElizabethan Theatre

The Early RenaissanceThe Early Renaissance

The arts became an essential part of The arts became an essential part of learning and literary culture.learning and literary culture.

For the first time, it seemed possible not For the first time, it seemed possible not merely to imitate the works of the classical merely to imitate the works of the classical world, but to surpass them.world, but to surpass them.

Theatre: The Early Theatre: The Early RenaissanceRenaissance

The early Renaissance was almost The early Renaissance was almost exclusively a time of visual art and exclusively a time of visual art and architecture.architecture.

Niccolo Machiavelli used the newly Niccolo Machiavelli used the newly developed science of visual perspective developed science of visual perspective to achieve amazing scenic to achieve amazing scenic accomplishments.accomplishments.

MachiavelliMachiavelli– Known for writing Known for writing The PrinceThe Prince

RenaissanceRenaissance

Renaissance began in Italy (rebirth)Renaissance began in Italy (rebirth)

Theater moved indoors; better methods for Theater moved indoors; better methods for lighting stage, 3-D scenerylighting stage, 3-D scenery

Commedia dell’arteCommedia dell’arte – wandering troupes of – wandering troupes of actors/actresses who improvised lines as actors/actresses who improvised lines as they traveled the countrysidethey traveled the countryside

Troupes used the same characters called Troupes used the same characters called stock charactersstock characters in each play in each play

Harlequin- a clever servant known for his Harlequin- a clever servant known for his costume which looked like a patchwork quiltcostume which looked like a patchwork quilt

Pantalone- foolish old man who wore baggy Pantalone- foolish old man who wore baggy trouserstrousers

Commedia Dell’arteCommedia Dell’arte This theatrical form developed in Italy and This theatrical form developed in Italy and

featured the actor rather than the script.featured the actor rather than the script. Commedia dell’arte could be identified by four Commedia dell’arte could be identified by four

specific aspects:specific aspects:– ImprovisationImprovisation: plots and sub-plots; dialogue was : plots and sub-plots; dialogue was

completely improvised.completely improvised.– Stock CharactersStock Characters: young lovers, old fathers, : young lovers, old fathers,

braggart soldiers, and comic servants.braggart soldiers, and comic servants.– Use of Mime and PantomimeUse of Mime and Pantomime: all characters : all characters

except the lovers and the maid wore masks; except the lovers and the maid wore masks; attitudes were communicated through gestures.attitudes were communicated through gestures.

– Traveled in CompaniesTraveled in Companies: each member played : each member played the same role over and over. the same role over and over.

Commedia Dell’arteCommedia Dell’arte A few works were serious, and some A few works were serious, and some

pastoral, but most were comic.pastoral, but most were comic. The acting appears to have been natural The acting appears to have been natural

though the actors needed good entrance though the actors needed good entrance and exit lines as well as repartee.and exit lines as well as repartee.

Actors required great skill, physical Actors required great skill, physical dexterity, and timing, since much of dexterity, and timing, since much of humor was visual.humor was visual.

Actors in commedia also had to dance, Actors in commedia also had to dance, sing, and do acrobatics.sing, and do acrobatics.

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

Drama: The High Drama: The High RenaissanceRenaissance

Italian playwrights chose mostly to write Italian playwrights chose mostly to write tender, sentimental, pastoral comedies, in tender, sentimental, pastoral comedies, in a graceful, witty, and polished style.a graceful, witty, and polished style.

Dramas were produced with elaborate set Dramas were produced with elaborate set decoration and usually at court for the decoration and usually at court for the nobility.nobility.

No permanent theatre buildings existed at No permanent theatre buildings existed at this time; the surviving Roman theatre this time; the surviving Roman theatre buildings were unstable.buildings were unstable.

Renaissance gradually spread to other Renaissance gradually spread to other countriescountries

Came to England during the Elizabethan Age Came to England during the Elizabethan Age (reign of Queen Elizabeth I)(reign of Queen Elizabeth I)

Fame was overshadowed by greatest English Fame was overshadowed by greatest English playwright of all time, William Shakespeareplaywright of all time, William Shakespeare

Elizabethan TheatreElizabethan Theatre1558-16031558-1603

Against common aristocrats’ view – Against common aristocrats’ view – Elizabeth I loved theatreElizabeth I loved theatre

Outside London:Outside London:– 11stst public playhouse public playhouse

The Theatre (1576)The Theatre (1576) The FortuneThe Fortune The GlobeThe Globe

– Theatres were like wooden O’s – round Theatres were like wooden O’s – round or octagonal or octagonal

3 Big Playwrights3 Big Playwrights

Christopher Marlow (1564-1593)Christopher Marlow (1564-1593)

– Dr. FaustusDr. Faustus– Protagonists sells his soul to the devilProtagonists sells his soul to the devil

Ben Johnson (1573-1637)Ben Johnson (1573-1637)

– Followed Aristotelian UnitiesFollowed Aristotelian Unities– Humorous satireHumorous satire

– ValponeValpone

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

– Considered the greatest English dramatistConsidered the greatest English dramatist– Wrote histories, comedies, tragedies, poemsWrote histories, comedies, tragedies, poems

Greatness of ShakespeareGreatness of Shakespeare

– Skill with plot balanceSkill with plot balance

– UniversalityUniversality

– Use of languageUse of language

– Memorable charactersMemorable characters

Political unrest after Charles IPolitical unrest after Charles I

Civil WarCivil War

Puritan Oliver Cromwell gained controlPuritan Oliver Cromwell gained control

Theatres = “Dens if inequity” – closed in Theatres = “Dens if inequity” – closed in 16421642

Theatre dies in England until 1660Theatre dies in England until 1660