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romanticism and melodrama 1750 - 1900

Sentimentalism an Audience Favorite. People are inherently goodMoved away from the crafty and sexual exploits of

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romanticism and melodrama 1750 - 1900

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    1. Romanticism and Melodrama1750 - 1900 Introduction to the Study of Theatre K. Kruszka

    2. People are inherently good Moved away from the crafty and sexual exploits of “Manners” plays Featured characters who struggled to succeed in the end. Became the impetus for future theatre movements and trends.

    3. Romanticism destroys Neo-classicism Political revolutions in the US and France gave way to thought to rebellion against set rules. Plays rejected poetic verse Themes of love and loss, liberty, freedom Plays rejected the “unities” moving to various times and locations within the plot. Exotic settings were employed.

    5. Romanticism was its own downfall Efforts to go to many places and events made the plots improbable. Romantic language was overblown, as were character emotions. Romantic plays appealed to a very limited audience and lost out to the more popular plays produced in the commercial theatres. Sentimentalism survived and became Melodrama.

    6. Wagner and Theatre Spaces Several nesting proscenium arches create the stage with an orchestra hidden in a pit to create the illusion of the play. “Mystic Chasm” Took away the box seats in favor of a raked audience where all views were equal- classless Darkened the audience space during the play Most 20th century theatre spaces resemble those inspired by Wagner.

    8. Melodrama “Music Drama” Featured sentimental characters Focused on victims, heroes and villains Simplified moral world - Good is rewarded, evil is punished. Scenes of great spectacle -fires, trains, earthquakes Music underplaying mood and surprise; Signature music or themes for certain characters (hero/villain). Romantic Melodramas developed into early silent movies.

    11. Melodrama Staging Increased theatrical machinery for action scenes to drop the stage; fly systems employed. Geographical detail and pictorial illusion were prized. Historical accuracy in costuming. 1830 – Candelabra lighting replaced by gas lamps - footlights 1880 Electric lights were used, allowed for the artistic manipulation of lights, longevity of theatres and the darkening of the house.

    13. Lasting Influence Became the most popular form of theatre until the end of the 19th Century. Companies toured for years in melodramas from city to city. Gave birth to the genres of the soap opera and the thriller.

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