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King Charles II
The son of King Charles I
The Merry Monarch
Restoration Period began in 1661, when he was crowned king.
King Charles I
Unpopular ruler
Believed in the “Divine right of Kings”
Was at Odds with the parliament
Levied large taxes on his subjects.
What was the First English play to use the Wings and Shutter system?
The Siege of Rhodes
William Davenent.
Prominent playwright (court masques) before theatres were closed.
Held private theatrical events in his home during the Puritan regime.
Wrote a handful of English-language operas to circumvent restrictions (music wasn’t banned).
Formed The Duke’s Company
Thomas Killigrew
Had been a favourite of King Charles I.
Supporter of the Royalist cause.
Awarded patent by King Charles II.
Formed The King’s Company.
What where the two Theatre Companies that King Charles II re-opened in 1660-1662?
William Davenant’s The Duke’s Company (Young actors in training)
Thomas Killigrew’s The King’s Company (Older, distinguished actors)
In 1682, Thomas Betterton merged the two companies to become The United Company.
Who merged The Duke’s Company and The King’s Company, and what was the new theatre called?
Thomas Betterton merged the two companies to become The United Company. (1682)
What Style of theatre was popular during the Restoration?
Comedy of Intrigue (or Comedy of Situation) -- Action-focused, not character-focused.
Comedy of Manners. — Wanted to laugh at themselves. Stories of sex and scandal. Reflection of French plays.
When were women first allowed on stage?
1660
Elizebeth Barry
1658-1713
Restoration period’s leading tragic actress
Played opposite Thomas Betterton in Shakespeare plays.
Anne Bracegirdle
1671-1748
Restoration period’s leading comedic actress
Played clever urban woman in comedies
Played sympathetic heroines in tragedies.
Eleanor “Nell” Gwynn
1650-1687
Rags to riches
Popular in Breeches roles
Mistress of King Charles II
Well liked by the public
What are the stock characters of Restoration Comedy?
The Fop: A fool. Outlandish style and larger than life personality. Tries to fit in, but doesn’t.
The Rake: Witty, charming, deceptive. Often the central character, driving the action. Audience favourite.
Jealous Husband:
Adulterous Wife:
The Cuckhold:
John Dryden
1631-1700
Poet, playwright, critic.
Wrote his first play: The wild Gallant For Killigrew’s Company.
Became a poet Laureate (1668).
Known as the “Father of English criticism.”
Aphra Behn
1640-1689
Worked for King Charles II as a spy in the Netherlands.
Turned to writing to get out of debt.
First Known Woman in England to make a living writing.
Most popular writer for Comedy of Intrigue
Who are the Female Wits?
Delarivier Manley
Catharine Trotter Cockburn
Mary Pix
Sir George Etherege
1636-1691
Considered the man who brought Comedy of Manners to the stage
William Congreve
1636-1691
Novelist turned playwright
His best play (The Way of the World), was a failure at the time and ended his career.
William Wycherley
1640-1716
Wrote for fun to exercise his wit
King of sexual innuendoes and double-entendres
Wrote The Country Wife
Thomas Betterton
1635-1710
Restoration period’s greatest actor.
Also a playwright, teacher, and theatre company manager
What is an Entrepreneur in the Restoration period?
Someone who owns the theatre building.
Although not as popular, what where the styles of serious plays in the restoration period?
Heroic Tragedy: (Popular from 1660 – 1675) Epic, plot-focused plays that usually had a happy ending. Character is not important, and the hero does not change.
Restoration Tragedy: (1675 – 1700), Adhered to the neoclassical rules. Simple plot. Written in blank verse. Popular to rework Shakespeare’s tragedies, such as Antony and Cleopatra (John Dryden’s All for Love). Happy endings for all! (Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, etc.)
what is An Essay of Dramatic Poesy?
Main theoretical treatise on theatre of the 17th century.
Had a major influence on the neoclassicists of the 18th century.
Written as a dialogue between four men debating theatre.
Eugenius, Crites, Lisideius, and Neander: most likely aliases for real Restoration critics, including Dryden