Roman Theatre

Background

  • "Greek power declined, Roman power grew."

  • "Dominated cultural and intellectual life all over Europe, Asia."

  • "Three classes: patricians (rich and ruling), plebeians (citizens), slaves (1/2 population)."

  • "Eventually Christian church condemned the Empire and actors (excommunication)."

Ludi Romani

  • "Dedicated to Jupiter (versus Greek Dionysus)."

  • "Several acting companies participated, admission free."

  • "Festival with many entertainments/rituals."

  • "Theatre competing with gladiators and animal contests."

Venue

  • "Pompeii, 55 BCE, first permanent theatre erected."

  • "Semicircular, flatground construction, amphitheatre."

  • "Frons scaenae: backdrop wall/building decorated with statues, fabric."

  • "Auditorium: hearing place."

  • "Curtain drops to begin production."

Performers

  • "Actors male amateurs and slaves, later professional companies formed."

  • "Histriones, Roman actors."

  • "Masks made of linen and attached wigs, called Personae."

  • "Dominus, head of a troupe, lead actor, producer of work."

Comparisons

  • "To Greeks, drama reflected moral values and important issues, paid homage; to Romans, it was strictly entertainment."

  • "The Greeks used a chorus for speaking and singing; the Romans had single actors."

  • "The Greeks associated drama with worship and homage; the Romans had little connection between drama and religion."

Playwrights

  • "Works largely not original, but adaptations of Greek myths and plays."

  • Titus Maccius Plautus (254-184 BCE):

    • "Most popular."

    • "21 known plays adapted from Greek New Comedy (domestic)."

    • "Most famous, The Brothers Menachmus, adapted by Shakespeare as Comedy of Errors."

    • "Wrote situational comedies."

  • Publius Terentius Afer (190-159 BCE), Terence:

    • "6 comedies survive (Greek comedies)."

    • "Wrote romantic comedies."

  • Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BCE – 65 AD):

    • "9 tragedies based on Greeks, but not written for stage?"

    • "Did not banish violence onstage, but included stabbings, murders, suicides."

  • Horace (65-8 BCE), Critic:

    • "Urged separation of comedy and tragedy."

    • "Saw theatre as largely entertainment."

    • "Tragedy had nobles, comedy had rustics."

    • "Prescriptive criticism (versus Aristotle’s descriptive)."