THEATRE HISTORY INSTRUCTOR:
THAR 281
Fall 2013
Exam #1 Review
What is Theatre/ The Origins of Theatre:
1. Define “theatron” the seeking place
2. List the specific areas of theatre: Performer, spectator, text, visual elements, spectators
3. What are the three types of playing spaces discussed in class? a. Proscenium b. Arena c. Thrust
4. What are the three areas of design discussed in class? What are the purposes of each?
5. What are the two most ESSENTIAL elements of theatre?
Audience and performers
6. Performances developed in the moment of performance (without a formal written text) are known as
7. Define and cite examples of ritual.
Ritual - the acting out of an established prescribed procedure.
Example: aggie ring dunk, midnight yell, Thanksgiving
8. Define and cite examples of ceremony. -Ceremony- formal religious or social occasion, usually led by a designated authority figure -Examples: Wedding, funerals, church ( pastor has to keep the audience engaged), music
9. What is the primary distinction between ritual and ceremony?
Ceremony is led by an authoritative figure 10. Define efficacious: done with expecting results
11. Define methexis: Group sharing
12. It is commonly accepted that theatre developed through: myth, ceremony, and ritual
13. Examples of theatrical performance can be seen in everyday life through
People telling crazy stories about what happened to them and acting them out with hand signals etc.
-Imitation, role playing, and storytelling are naturally theatre elements because we do this every day when girls act like guys and guys act like girls and overdo their mannerisms. (guys saying they’re fat, playing with their hair, and the way they walk)
15. Cite examples of popular entertainment.
- Movies, Broadway, Musicals, Music
16. Cite examples of how theatre is becoming more prevalent in popular entertainment.
Lady Gaga music performance, rock concerts, pop music
17. Who said, “ Theatre was created to tell people the truth about life and their social situation”?
-Stella Adler
18. Why do we study theatre history?
Gives us an insight of how society was during that time frame

Intro to Theatre History:
1. List the characteristics of Greek theatre: * Chorus- people who interact with main characters(they know everything going on) * Masks- used specific masks that didn’t change, which depicted overall mood of character * No women- men play all parts
2. List and describe the three most common types of Greek plays: * Comedy- funny * Tragedy- death and destruction, costumes, vibrant robes, masks * Satyr-poke fun of tragedy, raunchy. Half goat half men creatures
3. What was the purpose of the chorus in Greek theatre? Act as a narrator, give backstory, and summarize what just happened
4. Describe Greek and Roman theatre architecture. Built into a hillside, outdoor, seating arranged in a semi-circle
5. List the characteristics of Medieval theatre: Religious narratives, used elaborate special effects, elaborate costumes
6. Where was liturgical drama originally staged? In the church
7. Describe Medieval scenic practices.
Long stages, little houses (mansions), fire, blood
8. What were pageant wagons?
Each wagon is a different play
9. Define sacra rappresentazioni:
Religious drama of bible stories and lives of the saints
10. What happened to religious plays in Paris in the year 1548?
Religious plays banned in Paris
11. Commedia dell' Arte, literally translated means: “play of professional artists”
Play of professional artists
12. Describe the practices of commedia troupes: * Did improvisation * Played stock characters(hero, villain etc.) * Usually 7 men and 3 women * Traveling troops
13. What are scenarios?
Short scripts without any formal diologue
14. In what way was improvisation an important tool for commedia actors?
They usually forgot their lines, react to their audience and see what works.
15. Describe the importance and practicality of the use of stock characters. * Everyone knows the stock characters, expects them, and loves them * It makes it easy to perform plays using the same type of character
16. Define:
- Lazzi: repeated bits of physical comic business, often very crude
- Slapstick: wooden sword used for comedic fight scenes
- Zanni: servant character
17. List examples of contemporary popular entertainment in which the influence of commedia dell' arte can be.
Three stooges, the circus, slapstick comedy.
18. Where and when did the rules of Neoclassicism originate?
Italian Renaissance
19. What two cultures are the foundation of the Neoclassicism?
Greek and Romans
20. Define Decorum:
Appropriate social behavior * Age- act your age * Profession * Sex * Social status- (a servant wouldn’t yell at her boss)
21. Define Verisimilitude: Drama must be true to life; must be believable
22. List the three Unities and describe their attributes. * Unity of Time- play should not exceed 24 hrs. (some no more than 12) * Unity of Place- play should take place in only one locale * Unity of Action- one central story; features a small group of characters
23. List the characteristics of each Genre:
Comedy Tragedy
-Common people only (it appealed to the masses -Royalty only
-Dealt with common life situations -Death w/ affairs of the state
-less elevated/slang language -Elevated/formal language
-Happily every after -Resolution was disastrous, destructive or fatal
-Didactic -Didactic
24. Define didactic: there is a lesson at the end; you learn something
25. What are other rules for theatre established by the Neoclassicists? * On stage actions must be morally acceptable * No violence on stage * No chorus * No “deus ex machina”- (means stopping the machine), no all of a sudden resolution/everything ok * No soliloquy- (no long speeches addressed to the audience)
26. What is the oldest surviving theatre built during the Italian Renaissance? :
-Teatro Olimpico
27. Which theatre, built during the Italian Renaissance, is the first theatre to feature a permanent proscenium arch?
-Teatro Farnese
28. What are footlights?
On ground row, is a row of candles on the bottom of the stage in front of the actors, to shine light on their faces
29. Describe the difference between English public theatres and private theatres. * English public theatres outside * English private theatres were indoors( anyone could go to either)
30. Define: groundlings: Common people that would stand on the bottom/ground in public theatres; often very loud, rowdy, drunk group of people.
31. Describe the atmosphere at public theatres during the Elizabethan period:
People were loud and drunk would often have sex in the balconies
32. Discuss the representation of female characters in Elizabethan theatre:
Boys often played the roles of women
33. Describe the acting styles in Elizabethan theatre: * Very stylized ( over the top) * Double/triple casting * No women actors- so guys acting like girls were very over the top! * Typecasting- * Performance schedules: improvisation, and lack of realism
34. How do we know what the acting styles were like?
Historians, accounts from spectators, a lot of performances a week, a lot of performers
35. Who was Oliver Cromwell?
- Puritan leader, that outlawed theatre in 1642; he said theatre was inappropriate and irrelevant.
36. Why is the year 1642 important in the study of theatre history?
*-In 1642 theatre was outlawed in England
French Neoclassical Theatre (p. 209-227)
1. Describe the theatrical practices in France during the early part of the 17th century.
No scenario effects, no proscenium arch, still doing religious naratives
2. Name two people who were extremely influential in the introduction of Italian theatrical practices to France.
Cardinal Richelieu, Catherine de Medici
3. What was the Confrerie de la Passion?
Religious group, presented religious plays
4. What were its contributions to French theatre?
They built the hotel de Bergeron, first indoor theatre in France
5. What is the French Academy? * 40 writers * Settled debates over dramatic theory and criticism * Still in existence

6. Who was responsible for its creation?
Cardinal Richelieu
7. Who was Pierre Corneille? * 1604-1684 * Society of Five Authors * Comedy and Tragedy * El Cid(1636-1637) – did not follow the rules of neoclassicism * Strictly adhered to the rules of Neoclassicism * Elected to the French academy in 1646
8. Describe the controversy surrounding his play Le Cid.
Broke neoclassical rules * Mixed Genres * Decorum * Verisamiliture * Not believable that happened in 24 hours
9. Who was Jean Racine? * 1639-1699 * Tradgedies * Strictly adhered to the Neoclassical form * Rhyming couplets * Phadera (1677) still produced today

10. What is his play Phaedra about?
- Phaedra falls in love with her step son and thinks her husband is dead. When the husband returns she lies son dies mom kills herself.
11. Who was Moliere? * Troupe in residence at the Palas Royal * Highly Critical * Criticized poor theatre manners (The Impertinents) * Aristocracy (The critique of the school for wives) * Accused of the indecency because of his portrayals of religion and religious figures

12. Describe his contributions to French theatre.
He wrote Tartuffe, Fare, very critical his plays poked fun at society
13. What was the name of Moliere's acting troupe?
The Theatre Illustra
14. What types of dramatic works did her write?
Farse
15. He is well known for shocking audiences, how did he do so?
16. Which Italian form of theatre greatly influenced Moliere's writing?
Comedia
17. What was the biggest controversy surrounding his play Tartuffe?
Looked like he was mocking religion and religious figures
18. Describe French acting companies. * Sharing plan – 2 levels, pennsionaries(contracted out for a certain amount of time) and societaries (actually helped share within the company, owned part of the company and stock) * Women * Short rehearsal periods * Reparatory theatres (did a lot of plays) * Provided their own costumes

19. Define:
- Societaries
They own part of the theatre company
- Pennsionaries
Paid actors
20. Who was Giacomo Torelli?
Itallian Architect nickname “Great wizard” helped build Italian scenic theatres in France
21. What is significant about the Theatre du Marias?
2nd built theatre in France
22. Why did 17th century French tennis courts make good theatres?
They were already long and narrow, had seats and boxes on the side. Easy to convert
23. What is the Palais Royal?
First Proscenium Arch theatre in France, featured Italian shifting machinery
24. What was its original name?
Palais Cardinal
25. Who commissioned it?
Cardinal Richelieu
26. Why was it significant?
First proscenium arch theatre in France
27. What was the Salle des Machines? * “Hall of Machines” * Built in Honor of Louis XIV’s marriage – 1660 * Engineered by Gaspare Vigarani (Italian) * The largest theatre in Europe at the time * 52 ft wide, 232 ft long, the stage was 140 ft * Rarely used after the 1670’s

28. Why was it built? See above
29. In what ways is significant? See above
30. What is the significance of the Comedie Franciase?
31. Who established it? * First national theatre in the world * Established in 1680 * Louis XIV

32. What three troupes made up the troupe?
- Hotel de bergon, Forme theatre de marius *

English Restoration (p. 231-255) 1. Why is the Restoration called “the restoration”?
Because we restored the monarchy to power
2. Who was William Davenant? * He wrote the 1st English opera: “Siege of Rhodes” * He also ran “The Duke’s Company”; because he was one of two men allowed to do theatre.
3. What was his role in the restoration of theatre in England?
One of two men for a patent to produce theatre
4. Who was Thomas Killigrew? * Poet Laureate * The other only man allowed to do theatre
5. What was the name of Killigrew’s theatre company?
- King’s Company
6. What was the name of Davenant’s theatre company?
- The Duke’s Company
7. Who wrote what is considered to be the first English Opera?
- William Devenant
8. What was it titled?
- “Siege of Rhodes”
9. Describe the moral viewpoint that is most associated with the Restoration.
-Licentious and Permissive: very sexual time period
10. How often did people attend the theatre?
Daily
11. Describe the audiences during Restoration theatre.
Rowdy, crude, sex in audience
12. Describe Heroic tragedy: drama that focuses on an unlucky hero; the themes are love and honor
13. Describe Comedy of Intrigue:
Comedy with adventure and exploration and challenges
14. Describe Restoration tragedy:
Drama with a tragic hero etc. but uses rules of neoclassicism, words of Shakespeare
15. Who was William Wycherley? * Very well-known play writer; wrote plays that made fun of the high society(even though he was part of it) * Wrote: “Comedy of Manners”, “The Country wife”, “The Plan Dealer”
16. What is occurring in the scene from The Country Wife that we watched in class?
Horner is sleeping with Sir Jasper Wife
17. What word is used as a euphamism in this scene?
-“Seeing the China”: the sex.
18. Who was Aphra Behn? * 1st English woman literary writer * Most well-known woman play write from Restoration and Comedy of Intrigue * Her most well know play: “The Rover”(1677) * Her most well-known novel: “Oroonoko”(1688) * Nickname she published under: “Divine Astrea”
19. What is her most famous play?
-“The Rover”
20. Aside from being a playwright, she is also said to have been what?
-A poet, novelist, and spy
21. What is the greatest change to theatre in England that came from the Restoration?
Women on stage
22. Who had previously played female characters on stage?
-Young boys
23. Why were women, suddenly allowed on stage?
- King Charles went to France where he saw women on stage
24. Describe the role of Women on the English stage during the Restoration.
Objectified, not glorious or glamorous, exciting, first time allowed on stage
25. Who is considered to be the first “female star”?
-Anne Bracegirdle
26. What is a “breeches role”?
-When a woman actress performs in male clothing(ex. Pants, women at that time did not wear pants)
27. Who was Anne Bracegirdle? * Famous actress/singer b/c she was thought to be very virtuous * Nicknamed “The Celebrated Virgin” * She starred in Aphra Behns, “The Widdow Ranter” 28. Who was Nell Gwynn? * Actress * “Pretty, witty, Nell”
29. Describe the differences between the two women in regards to sexuality.
- Anne was very pure, Gwynn was very open with her sexuality.
30. Which of the two women was mistress to King Charles II?
- Nell Gwynn
31. What convention did playwrights discover was helpful in gaining control of the audience?
To let the women do the prologue, (talk to the audience)
32. What suggestion was made to help keep the morality in the theatre?
Only allowed married women to perform on stage
33. Who was Samuel Pepys and why is he important to the history of theatre?
He kept the journal during the English restoration, what we know comes from his journal 34. What famous Restoration was portrayed in the film The Libertine?
Elizabeth Berry
* This exam will also cover Spic-O-Rama, Tartuffe, and The Country Wife.