ROMAN THEATRE
Brief Roman History509 B.C
Etruscan (from Etruria) ruler was expelled, and Rome became a republic (just as Athens became a democracy).
Roman theatre and festivals highly influenced by Etruscan practices
by 345 B.CThere were over 175 festivals a year
240 B.CThe beginnings of Roman theatre recordedThe first record of drama at the ludi Romani (Roman Festival or Roman Games).Brief Roman History
55 B.C
First stone theatre built in Rome by order of Julius Caesar.Brief Roman History
Roman Theatre
Borrowed Greek ideas and improved (?) upon them
Topics less philosophical
Entertainment tended to be grandiose, sentimental, diversionary
Included more than drama : acrobaticsgladiatorsjugglersathleticschariots racesnaumachia (sea battles) boxingvenationes (animal fights)Roman Theatre
3 Major Influences
Greek Drama
Etruscan influences, which emphasized circus-like elements
Fabula Atellana which introduced FARCE (Atella was near Naples). Roman Theatre
Roman TheatreFarce
Short improvised farces, with stock characters, similar costumes and masks
based on domestic life or mythology
burlesque, parody
Most popular during the 1st century B.C., then frequency declined
Roman TheatreFarce
Probably was the foundation for commedia dell Arte
Productions included stock characters:Bucco: braggart, boisterous
Pappas: foolish old man
Dossenus: swindler, drunk, hunchback
Roman TheatrePantomime
solo dance, with music (lutes, pipes, cymbals) and a chorus. Used masksThe story-telling was usually mythology or historical stories, usually serious but sometimes comic.
Roman TheatreMime
overtook after 2nd century A.D.The Church did not like MimeMost common attributes of mime:SpokenUsually shortSometimes elaborate casts and spectacle
Roman Theatre
Serious or comic (satiric)No masksHad womenViolence and sex depicted literally (Heliogabalus, ruled 218-222 A.D., ordered realistic sex)Scoffed at Christianity
Roman FestivalsHeld in honor of the gods, but much less religious than the Greeks
Performances at festivals probably paid for by the state.
Were often lengthy and included a series of plays or events, and probably had prizes awarded tp those who put extra money in.
Roman FestivalsActing troupes (perhaps several a day) put on theatre events.
Festivals were sometimes repeated, since whenever any irregularity in the rituals occurred, the entire festival, including the plays, had to be repeated. (known as instauratio)
Roman Festivalsludi = official religious festivals
these were preceded by pompa = religious procession
Roman Festivals
ludi Romani
oldest of the official festivals
held in September and honored Jupiter
regular performance of comedy and tragedy began in 364 B.C.
Roman Tragedy
Characteristics of Roman Tragedy
5 acts/episodes divided by choral odes
included elaborate speechesinterested in moralityunlike Greeks, they depicted violence on stage
Roman Tragedy
Characteristics of Roman Tragedy
characters dominated by a single passion which drives them to doom (ex: obsessiveness or revenge)
developed technical devices such as: soliloquies, asides, confidants
interest in supernatural and human connections
Roman Tragedy
Seneca (5 or 4 B.C. 65 A.D.)
only playwright of tragedy whose plays survived
Nine extant tragedies, five adapted from Euripides (Gr.)
Though considered to be inferior, Seneca had a strong effect on later dramatists.
Roman Tragedy
Seneca (5 or 4 B.C. 65 A.D.)
WroteThe Trojan Women, Media, Oedipus, Agamemnon, etc., which were all based on Greek originals
His plays were probably closet dramasnever presented, or even expected to be.
Roman Comedy
Characteristics of Roman ComedyChorus was abandoned
No act or scene divisions
Concerned everyday, domestic affairs
Action placed in the street
Roman Comedy
Material from only 2 playwrights survived
Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.)
Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.)
Roman Comedy
Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.)
Very popular.
Plays include: Pot of Gold, The Menaechmi, Braggart Warrior
All based on Greek New Comedies, probably, none of which has survived
Roman Comedy
Platus (c. 254-184 B.C.)
Added Roman allusions, Latin dialog, witty jokes
varied poetic meters
Developed Slapstick & Songs
Roman Comedy
Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.)
Wrote only six plays, all of which survive, including: The Brothers, Mother-in-Law
More complex plots combined stories from Greek originals.
Roman Comedy
Terence (195 or 185-159 B.C.)
Character and double-plots were his forte
Less boisterous than Plautus, less episodic, more elegant language.
Used Greek characters.
Less popular than Plautus.
Roman Theatre Design
Roman Theatre Design
First permanent Roman theatre built 54 A.D. (100 years after the last surviving comedy)
Roman Theatre Design
General CharacteristicsBuilt on level ground with stadium-style seating (audience raised)
Roman Theatre Design
General CharacteristicsStage raised to five feet
Stages were large 20-40 ft deep100-300 ft long
Roman Theatre DesignGeneral CharacteristicsTheatre could seat 10-15,000 people
dressing rooms in side wings
stage was covered with a room
Roman Theatre Design
General Characteristics
trap doors were common
cooling system air blowing over streams of water
awning over the audience to protect them from the sun
Roman Theatre Design
Scaena
stage house
joined with audience to form one architectural unit
Roman Theatre Design
Scaena frons
front/faade of the stage house
was painted and had columns, niches, porticoes, statues
Roman Theatre Design
Orchestra
becomes half-circle
was probably used for gladiators and for the display and killing of wild animals
if entertainment permitted, people were sat here
Roman Theatre Design
Vomitoria
corridors under the seats that lead onto the orchestra
Roman Theatre Design
Pulpitum
the stage
Cavea
the auditorium
Roman Theatre Design
Other structures included:
Circus Maximus
Ampitheatres
Roman Theatre Design
Circus Maximus
Primarily for Chariot racingPermitted 12 chariots to race at once
Roman Theatre Design
AmpitheatresFor gladiator contests, wild animal fights, and occasionally naumachiaHad space with elevators below to bvring up animals, etc.
Roman Actors
Referred to as histriones, cantores (means declaimers), and mimes later primarily histriones
Mostly male women were in mimes
Roman Actors
Mimes were considered inferior; some believed they were slaves.
In the 1st century B.C., a "star" performer seems to have been emphasized
Roman ActorsStyle of Acting
Mostly Greek traditions masks, doubling of roles
Tragedy slow, stately,
Comedymore rapid and conversational
Roman ActorsStyle of Acting
Movements likely enlarged
Actors probably specialized in one type of drama, but did others
Encores if favorite speeches given (no attempt at "realism")
Roman ActorsStyle of Acting
Mimes no masks
Used Greek or Roman costumes
Lots of music