Term
| What are the traits of Romanticism? |
|
Definition
The idea that feeling and instinct rule
- Higher truth beyond worldly existence.
- The less spoiled, the more truthful
- people are composed of dualities (body/soul) which conflict
- Exceptional Imagination: Artists and Philosophers |
|
|
Term
| What were traits of Romantic plays? |
|
Definition
| Closet dramas without unities, genre or rationalistic outlook. |
|
|
Term
| What precipitated the "Reign of Terror?" And what was the result? |
|
Definition
| 1792, France declares itself a republic. Louis XVI was killed. The result was the empire being ruled by Napolean. |
|
|
Term
| What spurred the Industrialization movement? |
|
Definition
| The necessity of weapons for war. Factories were sprung, and the concentration of work created urbanization. |
|
|
Term
| When was the monopoly on theatre abolished in France? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What were traits of Melodrama (1800)? |
|
Definition
- virtuous hero or heroine pursued by villain
- threats against the hero's life.
- disguises, abduction, battles, floods and earthquakes
-episodic story w/ each scene having climax
- Poetic justice/ moral tone
- Comic servant with song, dance and music |
|
|
Term
| What are the differences between Romantic plays and Melodrama? |
|
Definition
| Melodrama has 3 acts with happy endings, while Romantic plays have 5 acts with dark endings. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Victor Hugo and why is he important? |
|
Definition
| victor Hugo is a Romantic playwright who is most known for his play Hernani, which gained fame by messing with verse, having no unities, and including death and violence in the play. Victor Hugo wanted to show the sublime/grotesque. He also uses practical furniture onstage, uses the whole stage and has actors face upstage. |
|
|
Term
| Who were two popular actors in France's Romantic period and what were they known for? |
|
Definition
Talma- known for keeping costumes accurate, and particular. Showed vigor/feeling.
Rachel- known for her death throes, she made her debut in the Comedie Francaisse. She was also known for scorn/rage/lust onstage. |
|
|
Term
| What were the beginnings of Russian Drama? |
|
Definition
| The heavy amount of censorship in Russia made Melodrama the most prevalent and safe genre for theatre. In 1805, State Theatres begin to appear. In 1809, training schools for actors started, putting an actor on a comic or tragic line of genre. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Mikhail Shchepkin and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Mikhail Shchepkin was a famous Russian actor who is known for being the first Russian actor to buy his own freedom from serfdom. Was known for trying to be as "natural" as possible. |
|
|
Term
| What happens in 1843 in England? |
|
Definition
| The Lord Chamberlain decides to let minor theatres perform major works. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A Burletta is any pay with 3 acts, yet there must be 5 songs in each act. This is how minor theatres got away with doing the more popular plays. |
|
|
Term
| What are the requirements of an English Melodrama? |
|
Definition
| It must have 3 acts, and a musical score. |
|
|
Term
| What is the story of Charles Kemble and James Robinson Planche? |
|
Definition
| Charles Kemble was the manager of the Covent Garden theatre in London, and he wanted to put on King John in period. He asks James Robinson Planche to costume, and JRP ends up writing the History of British Design (1834). |
|
|
Term
| Who is John Philip Kemble? |
|
Definition
| He is an actor/manager who was into the classical style of theatre. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Mrs. Sarah Kemble Siddons? |
|
Definition
| She was a talented Kemble, and sister to John Philip Kemble. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Edmund Kean, and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Edmund Kean was an English actor known for intricate movements and intonation. He played the realness of emotion (cringe/crawl). He was the first actor to institute "Starring Engagements." |
|
|
Term
| Who is William Charles Macready, and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| A rival to Edmund Kean, Macready was known for a combo of dignity and fire. Pause/Reflect was made famous by Macready, and he also introduced stage positions for actors. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Lucia Vestris, and what did she do? |
|
Definition
| First woman to run her own theatre, and created the "Box Set" as we know it today. Simplified the offerings for shows-wanted to be done by 11pm. Was the first female to play Oberon. |
|
|
Term
| What is the order of the top four cities for theatre in America circa 1781? |
|
Definition
1.) Philidelphia
2.) New York
3.) Boston
4.) Charleston |
|
|
Term
| Who is Royal Tyler and what did he accomplish? |
|
Definition
| A playwright, he wrote the first American comedy to be produced professionally-The Contrast (1787). |
|
|
Term
| Who is Samuel Drake and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Took acting company with the sets, costumes, etc. and performed (10 actors). Went by steamboat from port to port, making theatre popular along the river. |
|
|
Term
| What did William Chapman do in 1831? |
|
Definition
| He builds the first ever theatre inside of a steamboat, calls it a "floating palace." |
|
|
Term
| What was the national consciousness of America after 1812? |
|
Definition
| Foreigners were not trusted, yet the British were thought of as sophisticated. |
|
|
Term
| What were American character types that appeared in Melodramas? |
|
Definition
1.) Native American-Noble Savage
2.) Yankee-Common American Man
3.) City Boy-Rough Neck |
|
|
Term
| Who is Edwin Forrest and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| He was the first majorly popular American actor. He created the American School of Acting. He was characterized as being powerful, having vocal strength, being athletic and uninhibited. |
|
|
Term
| What is the basic story of the Astor Place Riot on May 10th, 1849? |
|
Definition
| Forrest believed Macready hissed at his performance, so Forrest "snickers" at Macready's performance. Two different producers cast them in the same role of Macbeth at two close theatres. City Boys, in defense of Forrest, buy up all the Astor Place tickets, and riot during the performance. Police fire at crowd, killing 31 people. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Thomas D. Rice and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| In 1848, Thomas D. Rice created the African-American stock character known as "Jim Crow." |
|
|
Term
| What is a minstrel show and how was it created? |
|
Definition
| The minstrel show gains popularity from E.P. Christy who introduces Jim Crow in the mix. The first part of a minstrel show is a semi-circle of men, with an MC in the middle, and two Endmen, known as Tambo and Bones. Played music, and did jokes. The second part was called an Olio and included Specialty Acts and songs. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Charles Hicks and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Charles Hicks introduces actual black men in the Minstrel shows, having been formerly played by white men. |
|
|
Term
| Who is William Henry Brown, and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| WHB started the first all-black acting company and theatre, known as the African Grove Theatre. He also is the first African-American to write an African-American play-King Shotaway. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| She is the first black actor to tour Europe, becoming a huge success in London. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Charlotte Cushman, and what did she do? |
|
Definition
| In 1845, she debuted in London, becoming a huge star. She was known for energy, constant motion, emotional control and intelligent line readings. |
|
|
Term
| What was the first theatre to have gas lighting? |
|
Definition
| The Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia in 1816. By the 1840s, all gas lighting is controlled from one spot. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Thomas Drummond and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Thomas Drummond was the creator of limelight, thus being the creator of the first spotlight. |
|
|
Term
| What did the Western movement of America do to theatre? |
|
Definition
| The invention of the Transcontinental Railroad made it easier to move theatre cross-country. Theatre made it's first debut in California in 1849. Mine strikes along the railroad would call for the setup of a theatre company. This then also precipitates the Long Run in America. |
|
|
Term
| What are tours like in America circa 1870? |
|
Definition
| Rather than just touring stars, we now have touring companies. In 1886, the railroad allows for entire productions to tour. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Edwin Booth and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Edwin Booth was/is considered the best actor in the US. Opened up the Booth theatre and played Hamlet for 100 performances. He combined emotional intensity with clarity of interpretation. He introduced hydraulic elevators to the stage. Got rid of the grooves in the stage floor, thus creating "free plantation" scenery. Booth theatre had no apron! |
|
|
Term
| Who is Augustin Daly and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| A critic, producer and director, he opened Daly's theatre in NY. He made Native American characters into villains. Established the difference between East and West. Brought out the idea of the director as a major force, having control over interpretation, business and blocking. |
|
|
Term
| What did Steele Mackaye do? |
|
Definition
| Developed an actor training program in the US. Also, left behind the idea of the elevator stage. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In 1866, The Black Crook director finds stranded ballet dancers in the train station, and asks them to dance behind his play. These "scantily clad" women were a huge hit! The women became the focus of the show, now turned into a variety act. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Tony Pastor, and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Tony Pastor brought back family friendly variety acts, sketches and short plays, inadvertently creating Vaudeville. |
|
|
Term
| What happens in 1895 in US? |
|
Definition
| The pay is converted to a straight salary, due to the popularity of the Long Run. Actor loses the high horse, and the director or producer is now the major force. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Mrs. Bancroft (Marie Wilton)? |
|
Definition
| She turns the "Dustbowl" into the Prince of Waled Theatre, and is very focused on realism in spectacle. She also emphasizes the ensemble-no bravura acting. She did not cast nor produce stars. Embraced the long run in England, and uses the salary method of payment. She introduced the matinee show, and added chairs to the pit, thus making it the "orchestra seating." |
|
|
Term
| Who is Henry Irving, and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| The manager of the Lyceum theatre, he was also a serious actor. He was known for his byplay and realistic reactions-thought of as bizarre or bold. Brought "free plantation" to England. Creates traps in the floor, and brings gas lighting to Britain. Installed treadmills on stage, and in 1895, he was the first English performer to be knighted. |
|
|
Term
| What occurs in the early 19th century with the working class? |
|
Definition
| Unionization and strikes lead to idealism being shut down by observation/analysis of real life. |
|
|
Term
| When and where was Realism introduced, and what is it? |
|
Definition
| 1853, in France, Realism is art that depicts the real, physical world-representation. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Eugene Scribe and what did he do? |
|
Definition
| Eugene Scribe is a playwright who developed the "well-made play formula." This included: careful exposition, cause to effect arrangement of scenes, scenes building to a climax, withheld information, startling surprises and suspense. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Playwright who wrote Camille, a story of a prostitute with a heart of gold. Developed the idea of "thesis plays" as a raisonneur, or "author's mouthpiece." |
|
|
Term
| Who is Francois Delsarte, and what did he create? |
|
Definition
| Francois Delsarte developed the first Acting Methodology. He created the Laws of Stage Expression, or the science of acting. He believed that physical, mental and spiritual behavior were brought upon by action, thought and emotion. He believed that the manipulation of the physical told the audience what an actor felt. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Sarah Bernhardt, and what is she famous for? |
|
Definition
| Sarah Bernhardt is an actress famous for pain, rage and death. She is also known for her golden voice and technical skill. |
|
|
Term
| Who is Georg II, or The Duke of Saxe-Meiningen? |
|
Definition
| Trained in the visual arts, he takes the throne in 1866, wanting to revamp the court theatre. He wanted justice for the script, authentic materials, treated the floor, and avoided symmetrical balance. |
|
|
Term
| What did Ludwig Chronegk do? |
|
Definition
| He helped revamp the court theatres with The Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, specializing in low comedy. |
|
|
Term
| Who was Ellen Franz, and what did she do? |
|
Definition
| Assisting Georg II, she was in charge of the repertory for the court theatre, supervised the stage speech and adapted Shakespeare and Schiller. |
|
|
Term
| What was acting like under the Duke? |
|
Definition
| There was a focus on the ensemble. He did not want stars, nor a star complex. He created mob or crowd scenes with individualized characters. |
|
|
Term
| How was the court theatre run under the Duke? |
|
Definition
| Open twice a year for 6 months, the court theatre provided everything for the actors beginning at the first rehearsal. The company was regarded as the most respected acting company in the world. |
|
|
