Theatre Flashcards
Who were Terence and Plautus?
Two of Romes most famous comic playwrights.
Whos plays did Plautus translate or adapt?
Menander - a Greek playwright who lived in the 4th century BC in Pompeii
Who were the stock characters in typical Roman comedy plays?
- The clever slave - who would assist his young master in his love affair (usually with the slave girl/prostitute) and make a fool of the grumpy father.
- The grumpy father - who would try to stop the affair.
- Arrogant solider.
- Cook.
- Slave girl or prostitute - usually discovered at the end to be the long last child of royalty or the upper class.
- Young master.
What would the audience shout if they were restless?
“We want bears! We want boxers!”
What was the ima cavea?
Still around today the ima cavea composed of 4 rows for the local senators (called decurions), VIPs and sponsors they even had their own arched entrance - their seating was more spacious.
What was the media cavea?
20 rows for the wealthier inhabitants of the town.
What was the summa cavea?
Composed of 4 rows they were for other people - freedmen, slaves and women.
How were actors and actresses viewed by Pompeiians?
A little better than prostitutes, they were usually foreign and not respected, yet some did become famous.
Eg; Paris - the “pearl of the stage”
Where were most plays set?
Athens - Greece this was because Plautus copied most of Greek playwright Menanders plays.
What were the disadvantages of the seating?
They were hard and only 40cm, no theatre roof meant exposure to the sun and some seats were far away from the stage.
What were the advantages of wearing masks?
It helped audiences to identify the various characters; also it amplified the voice of the actor; the actor could also play more than one part.
What masks did the various characters wear?
Old men - white beards.
Young men - dark hair.
Slaves - red hair.
Describe the basic plot of a comedy by Plautus?
Love affair between young master and a girl (slave/courtesan, although she later turned out to be royalty, upper class or '"free"). The slave protected his young master from the rage of the father and ensured the 2 lovers were re-united by the end of the play.
Describe the stage wall (Frons Scenae)
Built after the earthquake of 62AD, it contained 3 doorways and represented a street. It was often elanorately decorated, and also proided an area where the actors could change costumes and masks behind.
What were advantages of the seating?
Good all-round views with excellent acoustics- awnings and scented water was avaliable.
