English Restoration Theatre Part 2

Question 1

Which playwright has only 4 comedies?

Answer 1

Williams Congreve

Question 2

Who established themselves as one of the finest playwrights of the restoration?

Answer 2

William Congreve

Question 3

Who wrote The Old Bachelor?

Answer 3

William Congreve

Question 4

Who wrote The Double Dealer?

Answer 4

William Congreve

Question 5

Who wrote Love for Love?

Answer 5

William Congreve

Question 6

Who wrote The Way of the World?

Answer 6

William Congreve

Question 7

What were the three most successful plays William Congreve wrote?

Answer 7

The Old Bachelor, Love for Love, and The Way of the World

Question 8

What comedy is dubbed as the best Restoration comedy?

Answer 8

The Way of the World written by William Congreve

Question 9

Why did The Way of The World fail when it was first produced?

Answer 9

It was a failure because of the change of moral climate in England.

Question 10

What play is considered a bridge between Restoration comedy and 18th century English sentimental comedy?

Answer 10

The Way of the World.

Question 11

What goes unpunished in the universe of Restoration comedy?

Answer 11

marital infidelity abounds.

Question 12

True or False: People attended theatre to watch and enjoy theatre.

Answer 12

False. Spectators often attended theatre to be seen rather than to actually see the play.

Question 13

What were the audiences like for Restoration plays?

Answer 13

Upper class.

Question 14

What class of people was being satirized in Restoration plays?

Answer 14

Upper class.

Question 15

When were Restoration plays staged?

Answer 15

Fall to late spring.

Question 16

What is breeches roles?

Answer 16

A favourite dramatic device which was to have women dress as a man.

Question 17

True or False: Acting companies were smaller than those of the English Renaissance.

Answer 17

False. The companies were larger.

Question 18

What is the contract system?

Answer 18

actors that were hired for a specific period for a set salary.

Question 19

The Restoration saw an emergence of what?

Answer 19

theatrical entrepreneurs who were part owners of the theatres and companies.

Question 20

In order to increase their set wages under the contract system, company members were provided with?

Answer 20

Yearly benefits

Question 21

What did major actor in the company get?

Answer 21

One benefit performance was designated and that actor would keep all the profit.

Question 22

Were playwrights part of restoration troupes?

Answer 22

Rarely.

Question 23

How were playwrights paid?

Answer 23

They were either paid a fee or by a variation of the benefit system

Question 24

How long was the rehearsal process for restoration plays?

Answer 24

no more than 2 weeks.

Question 25

How long would they rehearse for a revival?

Answer 25

A run-through on the day of the performance.

Question 26

How long would the playwright assist for a new play?

Answer 26

The playwright assists on the first day of rehearsal. The rest was the responsibility of the acting manager.

Question 27

What was the acting style of the restoration?

Answer 27

it featured broad gestures and declamatory delivery.

Question 28

What are the three significant theatres during the restoration?

Answer 28

Lincoln’s Inn Field (a converted tennis court)
Dorset Garden
Drury Lane

Question 29

All three theatres infused what features?

Answer 29

Italian and Elizabethan features.

Question 30

What was the audience area divided into?

Answer 30

Pits, boxes, and galleries.

Question 31

The pit included what?

Answer 31

backless benches and was raked for better sightlines.

Question 32

What was significant about the stage?

Answer 32

It was raked and split into two nearly equal halves: the apron and the stage space behind the proscenium.

Question 33

What was the apron used for?

Answer 33

The apron was used as the major area for performance.

Question 34

What was the stage space behind the proscenium used for?

Answer 34

House scenery.

Question 35

What was a unique feature in these theatres?

Answer 35

There are two doors on each side of the proscenium arch that led onto the apron. These doors were used for entrances and exits.

Question 36

Where were balconies placed?

Answer 36

Balconies were situated over the doors and could be used for balcony or window scenes.

Question 37

What differences were made in theatres in the 1700s?

Answer 37

The stage apron shrunk and the the doors decreased from two to one.

Question 38

What did the scenery consist of?

Answer 38

wing and shutter systems that used painted perspectie.

Question 39

Did the English use the pole and chariot system or the groove system?

Answer 39

The groove system. Where multiple flats would line up behind each other and front ones would slide off revealing the one behind it.

Question 40

Were scene changes hidden and who changes them?

Answer 40

Scene changes were not hidden and stagehands changed the scenery.

Question 41

What was the costuming for restoration?

Answer 41

Contemporary clothing. Dramas set in the past called for historical costumes.

Question 42

What did windows do in restoration?

Answer 42

helped light productions, therefore shows were in the afternoon.

Question 43

How were candles used?

Answer 43

They were in chandeliers, brackets in the front of boxes and as foot lights.