Medieval Drama and Theatre

Question 1

What were some reasons for the decline of theatre after the Roman Period?

Answer 1

rise of christianity, theatre was a target for the church as well as prey of invaders, and finally the Trullan council forbid theatre

Question 2

How did the rise of Christianity affect the decline of theatre?

Answer 2

polytheistic nature of theatre was a problem according to monotheistic Christians

Question 3

How was theatre the prey of invaders?

Answer 3

the sacking of ROme destroyed civilization, 487AD Rome was destroyed, performers fled to Byzantine Empire to seek sanctuary

Question 4

How did theatre become a target of the Church?

Answer 4

mime’s subject matter dealt with life, so they would have parodied the Christian rites and practices; early on they were welcomed but later they were legislated against

Question 5

What was the Trullan Council?

Answer 5

692AD, final blow to theatre, major church council issued an edict, Canon 51 that forbid theatre and its players/spectacles/exhibitions of hunts/theatrical dances, if you opposed it you done got excommunicated, yo.

Question 6

How was the use of ritual significant in the rebirth of theatre in the medieval church?

Answer 6

similar to growth of theatre in Greek period, ex. worship of Dionysus; death/rebirth was similar to Christian’s focus on death/resurrection

Question 7

What were some explanations of theatre’s rebirth in the medieval church?

Answer 7

1. use of ritual 2. need to present church teachings to simple people 3. cyclical feast days (instructional representation needed at these times); 2 major seasons Christmas and Easter 4. church lent itself as a kind of a performance space 5. dialogue existing in liturgy

Question 8

What is the Oberammergau?

Answer 8

longest running passion play that still survives today; during the time of the plague the people of this village prayed to be spared from its effects, they were and promised to show gratitude for God’s mercy; every ten years the Oberammergau passion play is put on

Question 9

What are tropes?

Answer 9

songs in dialogue form introduced into the liturgy

Question 10

What is the Quem Quaritis?

Answer 10

very 1st trope inserted into the liturgy, was about the three Mary’s searching for Jesus in the tomb, eventually expanded to become the Visitato Sepulchri

Question 11

What is the Visitato Sepulchri?

Answer 11

the full version of the Quem Quaritis, more lines were added to it

Question 12

What was liturgical drama like in the 10th century?

Answer 12

dramatic episodes found their way into the liturgy; attempt at liturgical reform to make happenings in church more meaningful to congregation and increase number of churchgoers; also tropes were growing w/ more and more dialogue and eventually were removed from the liturgy and stood on their own

Question 13

Describe liturgical drama from the 10th-13th centuries?

Answer 13

drama flourished in the church

Question 14

What were the two main distinctions of types liturgical plays in the Church?

Answer 14

Easter Season and Christmas Season

Question 15

What were some types of liturgical plays in the Easter Season?

Answer 15

• visit of 3 mary’s to the tomb (Quem Quaritis—> Visitato Sepulchri); peaked in the 12th century, was performed at darn in Church before the Easter Liturgy on Easter Sunday
• Crucifixion
• Passion Plays (Oberammergau) - longest running passion play, began in 1634

Question 16

What were some types of liturgical plays in the Christmas Season?

Answer 16

• Nativity
• Three Kings
• Prophet’s Play (Adam is kind of a mini-prophet’s play)

Question 17

How does one spell the name of the longest running passion play?

Answer 17

O-B-E-R-A-M-M-E-R-G-A-U

Question 18

Mansions

Answer 18

small scenic units which set the stage for the play; backdrop for the action of the play (sometimes referred to as simoultaneous staging)

Question 19

Platea

Answer 19

localized acting area in front of the mansion

Question 20

Altar

Answer 20

part of the staging, used like the mansions

Question 21

Choir

Answer 21

used for the higher places - the heavens

Question 22

Crypt

Answer 22

used for the lower places - hell

Question 23

Costumes during medival times?

Answer 23

church vestments

Question 24

When did drama move out of the Church and where did it go?

Answer 24

13th/14th century, it moved into the marketplace (onto the front steps of the church as well)

Question 25

Corpus Christi

Answer 25

designated time for beginning of teh playgoing season once the plays were outside of the Church and in the marketplace - weather was nice so it was convenient

Question 26

Cycle Plays

Answer 26

took place in the towns of York, Chester, Wakefield, Lincoln; was typical/unique to England; performed in marketplace on pageant wagons - brought theatre to the people made it accessible

Question 27

Mystery Plays

Answer 27

liturgical dramas that moved out the Church, took subject matter from the bible

Question 28

Miracle Plays

Answer 28

stories about the saints and the Blessed Virgin; were performed about the continent

Question 29

Guilds/Confraternities

Answer 29

laymen’s involvement in plays began when the plays moved out of the Church, specific guilds would produce specific plays (ex. bakers would do Last Supper Play)

Question 30

Morality Plays

Answer 30

“everyman” - taught a lesson

Question 31

What were stages like?

Answer 31

moveable pageant wagons/caros OR fixed preexisting structures (ex. ampitheatres, embankments, or courtyards)