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Continental Theatre . 19 th Century 1800-1915. Styles of the Continental Theatre. 1. Romanticism - closet drama (Byron, Shelley, Tennyson) - adventures (Dumas) 2. Realism - illusion of reality- (Ibsen, Strindberg) - clear conflict- (Stanislavsky)
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Continental Theatre 19th Century 1800-1915
Styles of the Continental Theatre • 1. Romanticism - closet drama (Byron, Shelley, Tennyson) - adventures (Dumas) • 2. Realism - illusion of reality- (Ibsen, Strindberg) - clear conflict- (Stanislavsky) - psychoanalysis-(Freud) • 3. Fantasy- (J.M. Barrie)
Playwrights of the time • 1. Goethe- Faustus • 2. Victor Hugo- The Hunchback of Notre Dame • 3. Alexander Dumas- The Three Musketeers • 4. Henrik Ibsen- The Father of Realism The Doll’s House; Ghosts • 5. Strindberg Miss Julie
Playwrights of the time • 6. Chekhov The Cherry Orchard • 7. George Bernard Shaw Pygmalion • 8. Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest
Romanticism • escape from reality • emotional: - adventure - chivalry - beauty - sentimentality - idealism Examples: The Three Musketeers, Man in the Iron Mask, Faustus, Cyrano de Bergerac
REALISM- Ibsen • depicted a selected view of real life • relied on keen characterization • revolutionized theatre with use of social problems • had women as central characters • wrote about divorce, women’s rights, sexually transmitted disease, women having jobs, insanity • characters depicted came from lower class and farm
REALISM • Freud – influenced the workings of the mind • Chekhov- revolt against Romanticism and the control of the Czar and ruling class
Fantasy • J.M. Barrie- Felt that realism had gone too far and thought that theatre needed to be an escape for the audience. Example: Peter Pan
New Acting Method: Stanislovsky • Belief: actors had to get away from bombastic, overdone styles of acting • Developed: a new theory for acting which is still the basis of much acting theory today
New Acting Method: Stanislovsky • Actors should develop both body and voice • Actors should have techniques for moving about the stage that should be studied and realistic • Actors should be observers of reality • Actors should build an inner connection to a part they are portraying • Actors should thoroughly analyze the script • Actors should give illusion of action as it occurs (illusion of the first time) • Actors should strive for perfection
Staging Innovations • Chariot and Pole sets slots were cut in the stage floor to support uprights, on which flats were mounted. These poles were attached below the stage to chariots mounted on casters that ran in tracks parallel to the front of the stage
Staging Innovations • Revolving Stages • Rolling Platforms • Lighting: - gas lights replaced by incandescent lights - by 1913- 1000 watt bulbs - light bridges to hang lights - footlights are gone
Other changes • Wagner- (German) believed theatre should be a myth-maker, not so realistic, wrote opera influences seen yet in Lord of the Rings, Star Wars HIS INNOVATIONS: - fly space above the stage - modern seating-classless seating - did away with bench seats and areas for wealthy and designed chair style seat - promoted the “fourth wall” - wanted illusion, but also wanted detail in a set
Other Changes: • Appia and Craig very different philosophies Appia Craig Appia- liked many sets-anti-realistic staging. Craig- liked one set with many uses-3 dimensional sets they both thought theatre should have- • a single effect and unity • a strong director • unity of actor, scenery, director • all plays have a rhythm of text, actor, set
Next Theatre History: • 19th Century American Theatre