THEA Final Exam

Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Known as one of the most distinguished poets and writers of the Spanish golden era. Known for his many verse dramas, the Spanish Shakespeare. He is best known for his play "Life is a Dream," which explores themes of reality and illusion. Spanish Era

Liturgical playlets (and their roots in “tropes”)

Short plays tied into church services, including chanted or sung phrases as embellishment or commentary on a religious lesson, which derive from tropes. Medieval Era

Festival of Corpus Christi

A festival of the Roman Catholic Church in honor of the presence of the body of Jesus. Medieval Era

Mystery cycle

A series of medieval plays that show biblical stories, performed in cycles during festivals. In chronological order from creation to the day of judgment. Medieval Era

Humanist

First appeared in the fifteenth century Italy, describes university students who rejected the traditional curriculum of theology and instead studied the classical subjects of rhetoric, literary criticism, history, poetry, painting, architecture, and classical literature. Interested in self-development. Italian Era

Pageant Wagons

A horse-drawn wagon, which pulled up in front of an audience bringing the stage to the audience. Range from being as simple as a platform to a multi-story trapdoor and crane holding mega stage. Medieval Era

Miracle Plays

Tells the story of the lives of saints and their miracle. Popular in medieval theatre. Medieval Era

De Architectura

A treatise on architecture by Vitruvius, influencing Renaissance theatre design. Italian Era

Morality Plays

Plays about how we should conduct our life. With an emphasis on characters facing moral choices between vice and virtue. Medieval Era

Corrales

Crude platforms stages. Temporary structures are built in the courtyards of inns. Spanish Era

Declamatory Acting

A style of acting characterized by exaggerated gestures and vocal delivery, found in Renaissance theatre. This style of acting was created by scholars to try and recreate how actors would have performed in the days of ancient Greece; however, it is only guesses as there are no known records of this. Italian Era

Everyman

The most famous morality play makes abundant use of allegorical characters. Follows the life and death of the allegorical Everyman, who represent all of humanity. Death warns Everyman that he will be judged by God when he dies. He tries to find someone to take the journey with him but fails and ends up being the only one to make it to heave as he devotes his life to the fellowship. Medieval Era

Hroswitha

A 10th-century nun and playwright known for her early Christian dramas. Medieval Era

James Burbage

An English actor and theatre owner, known for building the first permanent theatre in London. English Renaissance

Interludes

Small secular plays, renamed interludes after they became popular. A play performed between other forms of entertainment, first performed at court for royal banquets, marriages, birthdays and other celebrations. Medieval Era

Slapstick

A form of comedy characterized by exaggerated physical actions and humorous situations. Italian Era

Three Unities

Rigid rules for playwrighting created by Aristotle. The unities recure that the action of the play take place within 24 hours (unity of time), that comedy and tragedy never co-mingle (unity of action), and that all the settings in a play can be reached within 24 hours (unity of place). Italian Era

Allegory

A dramatic device in which an actor represents or symbolizes an idea or a moral principle. Medieval Era

University Wits

A university club which stages private performances of classical plays, written by students and professors to replace said classical plays. University Wits included soon to be famous playwrights Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe. Elizabethan Era

Groundlings

The cheapest tickets in a theatre on the main floor. About 800 people stood elbow-to elbow in a mob. Elizabethan Era

Discuss the concept of “mansions” in the medieval period. How were liturgical playlets (short plays inserted in the church services) and mystery plays (in outdoor settings) staged?

• Mansions are smaller settings within a church that the congregation stood and moved around

• Small playlets were performed by priests

• Liturgical plays were performed indoors during church services

• Mystery plays were staged outdoors on pageant wagons

Discuss the development of perspective in the Italian Renaissance. Include a rough sketch of The Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy. What features in this theatre echo the theatre design of Roman times?

• Renaissance theatres included the theatron, skene and orchestra from ancient roman theatres to imitate them

• They developed to be indoors and were lit with candles

• Intermissions were added to relit the candles

• It also features a cavea or stone structure, with its seating and acoustics

Create a sketch of the stage space of the rebuilt Globe Theatre in London based on the photograph on p. 318 of the text readings. In a short paragraph accompanying your sketch, describe how colour is used to decorate the stage space.

• The theatre featured multicoloured flags, curtains and ribbons

• The wooden pillars and banisters were painted to simulate marble

• To make them seem fancier than they were

• They used verbal scene painting, so the audience would create and paint the scene in ttheir head

Discuss the popular Renaissance form of the Commedia Dell ‘Arte.

• Commedia Dell’Arte was a travelling company of actors who performed impromptu farces

• Originated in Italy in the 1500s, became very popular between 1550 and 1750

• Professional Actors, not amateurs

• Slapstick originated from this

• 5-25 actors

In your answer, include detailed descriptions of three typical characters Commedia Dell’Arte

• Pantalone: A stingy, retired Venetian merchant who often makes a fool of himself by courting young girls

• Scapino: A servant and acrobat who is smarter than his master

• La Ruffiana: A gossipy old woman who meddles in the affairs of the lovers (Innamorata & Innamorato)

• Once an actor mastered a particular role, they would play it for life / stick with it

Discuss the skills required to be an actor in Commedia Dell’Arte

• Speak different Languages, because of travelling all over the place

• Different musical skills

• Thinking on your feet, spontaneous

• Well educated (sometimes)

• Willing to travel far

• Manners for when performing in front of high class