Theatre History I

Ritual Origin

The link between the desire for an outcome and ritual and the actual outcome.

Cultural Darwinism

Things move from simple to complex

Theatre requires...

1. A sense of detachment
2. An esthetic sense
3. High levels of organization
4. A society that values art

Which nation is the oldest in development of the arts?

Egypt

Egyptian Passion Play

Memphis Drama and the Abydos

2 Egyptian extant materials

1. Ikhernofret Stone
2. Wall Paintings

What Egyptian ritual was presented annually from 2500 to 550 BC?

Osiris Myth

When did the Ancient Athenians create a theatre culture?

Between 600 and 200 BC

Our sense of theatre was born in ____________________.

Athens, Greece.

Written records and the Phoenician alphabet come from what culture?

Greek

What poems were precursors to Greek Theatre in the 8th Century BC?

Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey

When was Athenian Democracy born?

5th Century BC

The Greeks believed in the Principle of ________________.

Fate

The Festival for Dionysus that began in 6th Century Greece is called ________________.

City of Dionysia.

Dionysus is the god of ______________.

Fertility and wine.

What types of plays were presented at the City of Dionysia?

Three tragedies and one satyr

Tragodia means ____________.

"Goat Song"

Who wrote down the lyrics for the dithyramb in 600 BC?

Arion of Corinth

Who performed one-man plays and is the namesake for the word "Thespian?"

Thespis

Who was the "Inventor of tragedy?"

Thespis

Where was Thespis born?

Attica

What are the four stages of the structure of tragedy?

1. Prologue - Set the scene
2. Parados - Chorus Entrance
3. 5 Dramatic Scenes, followed by a stasima
4. Exodus - The climax and conclusion

Entering late in the action is a convention of what type of theatre?

Tragedy

Violence portrayed offstage is a convention of what type of theatre?

Tragedy

Time being continuous is a convention of what type of theatre?

Tragedy

Location being singular is a convention of what type of theatre?

Tragedy

A stasima is a _____________.

Choral refrain

Myth as inspiration is a convention of what type of theatre?

Tragedy

Auditory experience being primary is a convention of what type of theatre?

Tragedy

Who are the two playwrights debated to be the greatest playwrights of all time?

Sophocles and Euripides

Who is considered the most poetic of the Greek playwrights?

Aeschylus

When was Aeschylus's first victory?

484 BC

How many victories did Aeschylus have?

13

When was Sophocles's first victory? (Play: Triptolemos)

468 BC

How many victories did Sophocles have?

18-24

How many victories did Euripides have?

5

When was Euripides' first victory?

442 BC

Which playwright cast tragedy's religious foundations into question?

Euripides

Which playwright challenged the status quo?

Euripides

Who wrote Medea?

Euripides

Who wrote Antigone and Oedipus?

Sophocles

Who is the comedic playwright from the Old and Middle Comedy period in Greece?

Aristophanes

How many victories did Aristophanes have?

6

Who was the comedian from the late comedy period in Greece?

Menander

Who wrote Dyscolus?

Menander

When did Menander produce his first play?

321 BC

How many victories did Menander have?

6

When did Menander have his first win with Dyscolus?

316 BC

Outline the structure of a comedy.

1. Prologue
2. Agon - debate over a happy idea
3. Parabasis - Chorus ode directed to the audience
4. Monos - final scene, reconciliation

Mime is a convention of _____________.

Comedy

Myth parody is a convention of ______________.

Comedy

Domestic situations are conventions of ________________.

Comedy

Actors were hired by the ______________ and assigned by ______________.

State; lot

How many actors were required for the performance of a tragedy by the 5th century?

3

True or false: actors played multiple roles in tragedies.

True

True or false: actors played multiple roles in tragedies.

15

Name the functions of a chorus.

1. Character collective in the play.
2. Establishes context and standards for the audience.
3. The ideal audience onstage.
4. Sets mood and direction.
5. Sets rhythm and pauses to reflect.

True or false: the chorus was probably made up of high level professionals.

False

Initially, Greek theatre was musically accompanied by __________.

Flute

Greek dance in theatre was characterized by __________ & ______________.

Mime, gesture

The Greek theatron seated how many?

17000

"Theatron" means ____________.

"Seeing place"

Greek theatre audiences were most likely____________.

Men, women, children, and slaves.

The orchestra was the __________.

Dancing place

The skene was the ____________.

Changing area

The parados were the ____________.

Entrances on the sides.

Name the 4 parts of a Greek Theatre

1. Parados
2. Theatron
3. Orchestra
4. Skene

The word ekkyklema means ___________.

"Wheeled out thing."

The word "mechane" means ______________.

"Machine."

The word "proscenium" comes from what greek word?

"Proskenion"

When did Satyr plays disappear?

5th Century

Earliest Roman playwright with existing works

Plautus

Playwright who twists classic Greek plays

Terrence

Tragic Playwright

Seneca

True or False: Theatre in Rome had to compete with other types of entertainment.

False

Name the 4 parts of a Roman Theatre

1. Scene frons
2. Pulpitum
3. Vomitorium
4. Cavea

What is the primary source of info on Roman Theatre Architecture?

Vitruvius' de architectura.

True or False: Roman theatres had free admission.

True

True or False: Roman theatres had reserved seating.

False