English Restoration Theatre Part 2 Flashcards
Which playwright has only 4 comedies?
Williams Congreve
Who established themselves as one of the finest playwrights of the restoration?
William Congreve
Who wrote The Old Bachelor?
William Congreve
Who wrote The Double Dealer?
William Congreve
Who wrote Love for Love?
William Congreve
Who wrote The Way of the World?
William Congreve
What were the three most successful plays William Congreve wrote?
The Old Bachelor, Love for Love, and The Way of the World
What comedy is dubbed as the best Restoration comedy?
The Way of the World written by William Congreve
Why did The Way of The World fail when it was first produced?
It was a failure because of the change of moral climate in England.
What play is considered a bridge between Restoration comedy and 18th century English sentimental comedy?
The Way of the World.
What goes unpunished in the universe of Restoration comedy?
marital infidelity abounds.
True or False: People attended theatre to watch and enjoy theatre.
False. Spectators often attended theatre to be seen rather than to actually see the play.
What were the audiences like for Restoration plays?
Upper class.
What class of people was being satirized in Restoration plays?
Upper class.
When were Restoration plays staged?
Fall to late spring.
What is breeches roles?
A favourite dramatic device which was to have women dress as a man.
True or False: Acting companies were smaller than those of the English Renaissance.
False. The companies were larger.
What is the contract system?
actors that were hired for a specific period for a set salary.
The Restoration saw an emergence of what?
theatrical entrepreneurs who were part owners of the theatres and companies.
In order to increase their set wages under the contract system, company members were provided with?
Yearly benefits
What did major actor in the company get?
One benefit performance was designated and that actor would keep all the profit.
Were playwrights part of restoration troupes?
Rarely.
How were playwrights paid?
They were either paid a fee or by a variation of the benefit system
How long was the rehearsal process for restoration plays?
no more than 2 weeks.
How long would they rehearse for a revival?
A run-through on the day of the performance.
How long would the playwright assist for a new play?
The playwright assists on the first day of rehearsal. The rest was the responsibility of the acting manager.
What was the acting style of the restoration?
it featured broad gestures and declamatory delivery.
What are the three significant theatres during the restoration?
Lincoln’s Inn Field (a converted tennis court)
Dorset Garden
Drury Lane
All three theatres infused what features?
Italian and Elizabethan features.
What was the audience area divided into?
Pits, boxes, and galleries.
The pit included what?
backless benches and was raked for better sightlines.
What was significant about the stage?
It was raked and split into two nearly equal halves: the apron and the stage space behind the proscenium.
What was the apron used for?
The apron was used as the major area for performance.
What was the stage space behind the proscenium used for?
House scenery.
What was a unique feature in these theatres?
There are two doors on each side of the proscenium arch that led onto the apron. These doors were used for entrances and exits.
Where were balconies placed?
Balconies were situated over the doors and could be used for balcony or window scenes.
What differences were made in theatres in the 1700s?
The stage apron shrunk and the the doors decreased from two to one.
What did the scenery consist of?
wing and shutter systems that used painted perspectie.
Did the English use the pole and chariot system or the groove system?
The groove system. Where multiple flats would line up behind each other and front ones would slide off revealing the one behind it.
Were scene changes hidden and who changes them?
Scene changes were not hidden and stagehands changed the scenery.
What was the costuming for restoration?
Contemporary clothing. Dramas set in the past called for historical costumes.
What did windows do in restoration?
helped light productions, therefore shows were in the afternoon.
How were candles used?
They were in chandeliers, brackets in the front of boxes and as foot lights.
