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AGE OF STYLE

AGE OF STYLE. Actor’s Studio - Tuesday March 25, 2013 Shawnee Mission West High School. A Period of many names!. Age of Style Comedy of Manners Restoration Comedy. background.

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AGE OF STYLE

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  1. AGE OF STYLE Actor’s Studio - Tuesday March 25, 2013 Shawnee Mission West High School

  2. A Period of many names! • Age of Style • Comedy of Manners • Restoration Comedy

  3. background • Comedy of manners is concerned with the social manners and attitudes of groups or classes of people who define themselves as superior, or at least different, by the following of very particular life styles based upon strict codes of behavior and taste.

  4. background Restoration of Charles II Charles’ Sweet Mustache • Raised in the French court • Brought back French code of manners • Idea of Theatre as court entertainment • Theatre geared towards aristocrats $$ • Their life on stage

  5. The Great Juxtaposition • Must be wealthy  but don’t look like you work! • Handkerchief – careless, but not too precise • Leave bottom button undone • Code must be learned but must not LOOK learned

  6. Social Mores and Attitudes • Hobbesian view of life • the human was a creature of animal passions and instincts • the amoral pursuit of pleasure was the true aim of existence • the person who could laugh at life most wittily was the winner of life’s ephemeral and somewhat cynical stakes. • Thus, carnal pleasure was highly prized, sexual chase was the great sport of the day.

  7. Now let’s talk about THEATRE!! • Space and Social Settings • Illusionistic • Raked stage • Perspective painting • Chariot and Pole System • Space, elegance, simplicity

  8. Raked stage

  9. Chariot-And-Pole System

  10. Costumes • simply everyday clothing to the society of the time • silks and lace and frills and curls • female bosom, male leg exposed • Cleanliness not exactly a virtue • Powdered makeup • Covered ravages caused by small pox

  11. Costumes MEN Be a Perfect Peacock, yet draw no attention! • Long coat w/ wide cuffs • Hankie • Embroidered coat • Shirt with laces and ribbons • Breeches to the knees • Shaved head, long wig • Snuff box

  12. Costumes WOMEN FEMALE ACTORS  YAY • Bell-shaped, full-skirted gown • Bodice cut low • Corset • Hair adorned with hats, ribbons and scarves • Fans

  13. Social groups • Were defined by attitude, manners and costumes • Think of social groups in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, today • Playwrights made characters as close to real life as possible • Actor’s task was not to make character unusual or different

  14. The Fop • Foolish • Idle, affected, fashionable and ridiculous • Overly concerned with appearance • Also called “coxcomb, ninny or macaroni”

  15. Performance demands • VERBAL FACILITY • Witty language • Particular manner of speech • Rhythms, structure, word choice • Breathless • Quickfire • Blunt and direct

  16. Performance Demands • COMIC TIMING • Setting up a rhythm to help audience laugh at the right moment. • Builds tension, audience feels need of release, knows a laugh is coming

  17. VERBAL FENCING • “Fencing with the tongue” like a Tennis match • EXAMPLE – The Importance of Being Earnest • JACK: When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring. • ALGERNON: And who are the people you amuse? • JACK (airily): Oh, neighbours, neighbours • ALGERNON: Got nice neighbors in your part of Shropshire? • JACK: Perfectly horrid! Never speak to one of them. • ALGERNON: How immensely you must amuse them!

  18. UNIT DEADLINES • Character History • DUE THURSDAY, MARCH 28 • Monologue Tactics • DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 29 • First Line • DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 29 • Half Memorization • DUE MONDAY, APR. 1 • Final Performance • DUE THURS, APR. 4 or FRI, APR. 5

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