English Restoration Theatre

1. English Restoration Theatre 1660-1700

2. Historical Background • Charles I was removed from throne and beheaded by Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans in 1649 after a 7 year civil war • Next 11 years known as the commonwealth • Cromwell died in 1658 and his son could not control government • In 1660, Charles II, who had been living in France, was invited by a newly elected Parliament to return from exile and rule England • Monarchy was restored and the new period was called the Restoration. • Rulers that followed: • James II (1685) • William and Mary (1688)

3. Theatre During the Commonwealth • Puritans closed theatres in 1642 • Playhouses were dismantled • Actors were persecuted • Around 1650, William Beeston acquired the Salisbury Court Theatre and began to train a company of boys • Performed drolls – short versions of full-length plays, usually comedies

4. William Davenant • Court playwright before the closing of the theatres • Presented theatre as “musical entertainments” and staged them in his home • In 1656, he presented The First Day’s Entertainment at Rutland House and The Siege of Rhodes • The Siege of Rhodes had a proscenium arch and wing-shutter settings • Influences of Italian scenic designs incorporated – first public performance with changeable scenery was used • Considered the first English opera • First public performance in which actresses appeared on stage

5. Charles11 • Charles II becomes king • Response to the puritans • Reforms to the theater… English Royal Patent of 1662- • Theater Monopoly • Women Actors

6. Theater Monopolies Two playhouses given official order : Drury Lane Theater Lincoln’s Inn Fields ( Covent Garden) Only legal theaters in London to present full length play( licensed by the king) From these two names comes the term, legitimate theater, royal theater , and patent theater, which refers to professional stage plays.

7. Minor theater • What was a minor theater ? • A legal, licensed ,London playhouse which could not perform regular drama • What types of plays they permitted to present ? • 1-short plays • 2-Operas( both ballad and italianate) • 3-Melodrama

8. Restoration Audiences • Audiences were quite spirited in their behavior during performances • Spoke back to the actors, arranged assignations with each other and attended the theatre to be seen rather than to see the play • Primarily audiences of the upper class – the same group being satirized in the plays • Playwrights tailor their works specifically for the audience they know will be watching

9. Royal Theaters • Two patents: were issue by Charles II that allowed for two acting companies to be established as the major production companies of their time. Sir William Davenant was granted one of these royal patents and the Duke of York's Company opened in 1661. • The Duke's Company originally performed at Lincoln's Inn Fields. • The company moved to it's permanent location in 1671 • . The Doreset Garden Theatre was created and built by Sir Christopher Wren. • The patent was later moved, in 1732, to the Covent Garden Theatre in the center of Westminster, London • still stands

10. Royal Theaters • The second royal patent was issued to Thomas Killigrew, who started the King's Company. • Their theatre, Royal Drury Lane, or Drury Lane Theatre, opened in 1663. The theatre was also created and built by Sir Christopher Wren. • After being burnt down by a fire in 1672, Sir Christopher Wren sketched out a new architectural framework and the second Theatre Royal was created. • This theatre is still located in the City of Westminster," and is "the oldest theatre in London that is still in use" ("Drury Lane Theatre").

11. The patent stated: “All women’s parts should be performed by women” and that plays and acting should be considered “useful and instructive representations of human life.” Nell Gwynn “moves the passions” First Celebrity Actors Women Actors

12. Performers • Thomas Betterton • Admired for his attention to detail, self-discipline and majestic restraint, he remained a model of English oratorical style • Noted for his dazzling characterizations of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes, even though he was equally skillful in comedy and tragedy • Appearance of actresses on the English stage • Popular dramatic device to dress woman as a man – called breeches roles • Considered by religious leaders to be scandalous • Actresses often seen as no better than prostitutes • Not necessarily a sign of equality or equal treatment by allowing women to perform • Eleanor (Nell) Gwynn • Famous actress – excelled in singing and dancing but was a failure in tragedy • Drew attention of Charles II and became his mistress and left the stage

13. Acting Companies • Actors were hired on a contract system and not a sharing plan • Marked a decline of actors’ control over theatre in London • Actors learned their craft through apprenticeships • Rehearsals lasted less than 2 weeks • Acting styles featured broad gestures and powerful declamatory delivery

14. Theatre Architecture • All theatres were now indoor proscenium-arch buildings • Audience areas divided into pit with backless benches and raked from back to front, boxes, and galleries • Stage divided into two distinct halves • The Apron – the forestage in front of the proscenium – major area for performance • Backstage housed the scenery • Entire stage was raked • Proscenium doors • Used for entrances and exits

17. What did the Restoration stage look like? The Restoration stage was a proscenium theatre with a deep forestage or apron. There was a proscenium opening which framed the scenery. Most of the action took place on the forestage. Entrances and exits were made through doors on the either side of the apron.The 650 seats (in 1700) were distributed between the pit, boxes, and galleries. The most expensive seats were in the private boxes which surrounded the first floor pit. The cheapest seats were in the galleries . Wha?

18. Audiences seated on floor Stage is raked, that is, sloped upward away from the viewers. Elaborate scenery and mechanical equipment used Move to the indoors, artificial light Middle-priced tickets were in the pit before the proscenium-arched stage. The first-level boxes against the walls were most expensive. The lowest-priced seats were in the upper ranges of the balconies. Physical Structure of the Theater

19. Scenic Practices • Sets painted in perspective • Flats on groove system • Stock settings were normal: drawing room and the park • Scene changes happened while audience watched • Costumes followed traditions of English Renaissance • Contemporary clothing was standard • Traditional costumes and accessories worn to indicate historical figures or eras • Lighting was difficult • Performances took place in the afternoon to use natural lighting • Candles and chandeliers were used to light as well • Used footlights – lights on the floor running along the front of the stage

20. Government and the Theatres • Master of Revels took control of theatre and issued licenses • In 1737, Parliament passed the Licensing Act • Only two theatres were authorized to present “tragedy, comedy, opera, farce, or other entertainment for the stage for gain, hire or reward” • Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres were the two theatres authorized