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Theatre History II - Part I
French Neoclassical & English Restoration
73
Fine Art
Undergraduate 4
02/08/2011

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Term
Huguenots
Definition
Protestants in the religious civil war.
Term
Edict of Nantes
Definition
The way Henri IV solved the religious strife. It offered non-Catholics equality and tolerance under French law.
Term
Cardinal Richelieu
Definition
A major political force during the reign of Louis XIII. Advanced Italian culture in France. Probably most responsible for France's rise to political and economic power in the 17th century.
Term
Cardinal Mazarin
Definition
The cardinal when Louis XIV ascended to the throne. Wielded the real power.
Term
Confrerie de la Passion
Definition
"Confraternity of the Passion." An organization that came together to organize religious plays. Used various locations in Paris for its presentations, then later moved to a theatre.
Term
Hotel de Bourgogne
Definition
The theatre the Confrerie de la Passion built in 1548. May have been the first permanent theatre constructed in Europe since Roman times.
Term
La Pleiade
Definition
A literary group formed in the mid-1500s whose cause was to further writing and culture. It produced French plays based on neoclassical models.
Term
Alexandre Hardy
Definition
The person generally considered to be the first professional French playwright. Used neoclassical devices such as messengers and the five-act structure, but paid little attention to the unites of time, place and action.
Term
Le Palais Royal
Definition
The first theatre in France with a fixed proscenium arch and a stage using flat wings. Commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu.
Term
L'Academie Francaise
Definition
A group limited to 40 writers and other intellectuals.
Term
Pierre Corneille
Definition
He wrote the play Melite in his spare time and after an acting troupe did well with it, he began to spend much of his time writing plays. He was appointed by Cardinal Richelieu into the Society of the Five Authors which was commissioned to write plays for the Cardinal's entertainment.
Term
Le Cid
Definition
Corneille's first serious play. Recounts the story of Rodrigue and Chimene who are in love but are separated because of a quarrel between their fathers.
Term
Jean Racine
Definition
Showed an extraordinary ability to create dramatic tension through concentration and characterization. Strictly adhered to the unities.
Term
Moliere
Definition
Specialized in comedy. He insisted on depicting vices and follies truthfully. Combined farcical humor with a gift for witty dialogue and a keen eye for human foibles.
Term
The King's Men
Definition
Moliere's acting troupe.
Term
Ballets d'entrees
Definition
a form of ballet that became popular at the court of Louis XIV. The dances were not complicated and the king often took part.
Term
Parterre
Definition
The pit for standing spectators.
Term
Loges
Definition
boxes around the side and back walls of theatres.
Term
Paradis
Definition
The third tier of galleries along the side walls. "Heavens"
Term
Theatre du Marais
Definition
The Hotel de Bourgogne's first competition. A converted indoor tennis court.
Term
Giacomo Torelli
Definition
Italian scenic wizard who was brought to France in the mid-1640s to design scenery and install scene-changing equipment.
Term
Pole-and-chariot scenery shifting
Definition
A platform stage was built 6 feet high, 49 feet wide and 48 feet deep and a system was built to move scenery easily.
Term
Amphitheatre
Definition
An undivided gallery that contained inexpensive bleacher-like seating.
Term
Gaspare Vigarani
Definition
Another stage wizard who was ordered from Italy to prepare the Tuileries Palace.
Term
Les Salles des Machines
Definition
The "hall of Machines." Completed in 1660, it was the largest theatre in europe. The backstage equipment included one piece of machinery on which the entire royal family could be "flown" into the space above the stage.
Term
Le Comedie Francaise
Definition
A major theatre building of the French Neoclassical period. Housed the French national theatre. Another converted tennis court, but the sight lines were significantly better because its interior had a horseshoe shaped construction.
Term
Societaires
Definition
Shareholders in the sharing plan
Term
Pensionnaires
Definition
Actors contracted to perform minor roles.
Term
Doyan
Definition
The head of the company. The actor with the longest service in the troupe.
Term
Bellrose
Definition
The leading actor with the company at the Hotel de Bourgogne (The King's Players) from 1620s to 1647. Excelled at both comedy and serious drama.
Term
Montdory
Definition
The outstanding actor at the Theatre do Marais. A favorite of Cardian Richelieu, who granted him subsidy.
Term
Floridor
Definition
Replaced Montdory in the Marais as the outstanding actor of the group.
Term
Madeleine Bejart
Definition
A highly acclaimed actress in Moliere's group. Played tragic heroines early on, but later performed comic roles for Moliere.
Term
Michel Baron
Definition
The finest French actor of the late seventeenth century. Noted for his less stilted, more natural acting style. Recognized as the leading serious actor on the french stage.
Term
Armande Bejart
Definition
The leading actress in Moliere's troupe in its later years. Became his wife. Was trained for the stage by Moliere and also inspired some of his writing.
Term
Theatre Illustre
Definition
A theatre company started by Armande, Madeleine and her brother Joseph and even Moliere.
Term
Oliver Cromwell
Definition
Took over as the puritan leader of England during the commonwealth period. He passed a law saying all theatres should be closed and dismantled.
Term
Charles II
Definition
Was reinstated as the king after the commonwealth died out. Ruled without Parliament. Treated theatre as a "royal property" and it became an upper-class event.
Term
The Restoration
Definition
The name given to the time when the monarchy was restored over the commonwealth.
Term
William Beeston
Definition
Acquired the Salsbury Court Theatre. Rebuilt it and began to train a company of boys there. During the commonwealth.
Term
Drolls
Definition
Short versions of full-length plays.
Term
William Davenant
Definition
A particularly important theatrical producer during the commonwealth period. Had been a playwright previous to the closing of the theatres. He was able to circumvent the ordinances against theatre by describing the presentations as musical entertainments. Wrote The siege of Rhodes which is considered the first English opera. Formed "The Duke's Company"
Term
John Webb
Definition
The son-in-law of Inigo Jones. Designed Davenant's theatre. Used Italianate devices such as a proscenium arch and a wing and shutter setting.
Term
Thomas Killigrew
Definition
A favorite of Charles I. Wrote tragicomedies. Along with Davenant, was given a patent that gave them a monopoly on theatrical productions in London. Formed "The King's Company"
Term
The Siege of Rhodes
Definition
Considered the first English opera. Also, the first production win which an actress appeared on the English stage and the first public performance in which changeable scenery was used.
Term
The King's Company
Definition
Formed by Killigrew with older, more experienced actors.
Term
The Duke's Company
Definition
Formed by Davenant. Had several promising young actors. Went on to be the stronger and better managed company.
Term
Heroic Tragedy
Definition
Dealt with extraordinary characters who undertook extraordinary deeds. Deal with the themes of love and honor and are reminiscent of the dramas of the Spanish olden age.
Term
Restoration Tragedy
Definition
Adhere to the neoclassical rules. Became popular during the last quarter of the 17th century. Many of Shakespeare's plays were reworked into a neoclassical mold with happy endings.
Term
John Dryden
Definition
The most noted author of Restoration tragedy. Wrote "All for Love"
Term
Aphra Behn
Definition
One of the most successful writers of comedies of intrigue. The first woman English playwright. The first to have earned a living by writing. Mostly wrote plays of intrigue.
Term
Comedies of Manners
Definition
Focuses on the fashions and foibles of the upper class. Poke fun at the social conventions and norms of the time and satirize the preoccupation of the upper class with reputation.
Term
William Wycherley
Definition
Satirized the elegant, dissolute society of Restoration england. Playwriting, for him, was a way of proving his cleverness and with. He showed the faults of all members of his glittering society rather than just making fun of the usual fools.
Term
William Congreve
Definition
One of the Restoration's finest dramatists. Wrote "The Way of the World."
Term
The "female Wits"
Definition
Included Catharine Trotter, Mary Pix and Delariviere Manley. Used to be derogatory but later came to signify the importance of these figures to a feminist revision of late 17th century theatre history. Worked in the London theatre world in a highly collegial manner. Worked to increase the involvement of female playwrights in English theatre.
Term
"Orange Wenches"
Definition
Women selling fruit. Usually also their bodies. They were prostitutes.
Term
Breeches role
Definition
Parts that required a woman to dress like a man.
Term
Thomas Betterton
Definition
Noted for his performances in Shakespeare's plays. Worked with Elizabeth Barry. The greatest actor of the Restoration age. Admired for his attention to detail, self-discipline and majestic restraint.
Term
Nell Gwynn
Definition
The best-known theatre personality of the era. Famous for her comic performances, her dancing and her liaison with Charles II.
Term
The United Company
Definition
Created when the Duke's Company merged with the King's company. Betterton headed it at Drury Lane, but it was financially controlled by a group of patentees.
Term
Anne Bracegirdle
Definition
Achieved resounding popularity for her portrayal of enticingly clever urban women in Restoration comedy and sympathetic heroines in tragedy. Called "The Celebrated Virgin." The leading comic actress in the United Company.
Term
Contract System
Definition
Marked a decline in the actors' control over theatre in London. Actors were hired for a specific period of time at a set salary.
Term
Theatrical entrepreneurs
Definition
Often part-owners of theatre buildings and companies.
Term
Benefit performances
Definition
A performance from which one actor would keep all the profits. Frequently, the ticket pries were increased so the performer's earnings would be greater.
Term
Licensing Act of 1737
Definition
A new attempt to regulate London theatre. Only two theatres were authorized to present "tragedy, comedy, opera, play, farce or other entertainment for the stage for gain, hire or reward." The Lord Chamberlain became responsible for licensing plays. The two theatres were Covent Garden and Drury lane.
Term
Pit, boxes and galleries
Definition
The different areas for the audiences. Al had benches.
Term
Inigo Jones
Definition
Designed and painted wing-and-shutter settings for court entertainments during the Caroline and Jacobean periods. Influenced his son-in-law to use these devices at the close of the commonwealth in his design for "The Siege of Rhodes."
Term
Shutters
Definition
A basic scenic component in which two halves of a stiff backing at the rear of the stage opened or closed.
Term
Groove system
Definition
A system of scenery changing in which flats were placed in grooves behind the proscenium and on the backstage floor. The flats were pulled off into the wings.
Term
Footlights
Definition
Lights on the floor running along the front of the stage.
Term
Jeremy Collier
Definition
A minister who wrote "A Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage." After his attack, the sexual content of the plays was toned down.
Term
Susanna Centlivre
Definition
The most commercially successful of the English female playwrights of the Restoration. Wrote The Gamester, The Basset Table, The Busy Body, The Wonder: A Woman Keeps her Secret and A Bold Stroke for a Wife.
Term
George Farquhar
Definition
Many of his plays are described in terms of the "realism." May have been partly autobiographical.
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