Arts-9

• Ancient Greek Theater


  Began around 700 B.C.
• Theatrical Forms or Genres in Ancient Greek Theater

  • Tragedy
  • Comedy
  • Satyr
• Tragedy


  • Deals with tragic events, unhappy endings, defeat of the main character, most admired type of play in Greece
  • Only 3 players allowed onstage
  • Chorus (group of up to 15 actors who sang and danced but did not speak) helps in scene transitions
• Thespis


  Earliest recorded actor in a tragedy play, introduced the use of masks, called the "Father of Tragedy"
• Thespian


  Common English term for a performer
• Comedy


  • Mirrors the society in a humorous way, reflecting wickedness and immorality, makes people see the impact of their behavior and change for the better
• Satyr


  • Combination of tragedy and comedy, a spoof of tragedy known for its vulgar and indecent amusement, usually performed after a set of three tragedies
• Tragicomedy


  Also called satyr, a term coined by Titus Maccius Plautus, a Roman playwright
• Roman Theater


  Began in the 3rd century B.C.
• Theatrical Forms or Genres in Roman Theater

  • Tragedy
  • Comedy
• Medieval Theater


  500 C.E. - 1400
• Theatrical Forms in Transition and Early Medieval Theater (Byzantine Empire)

  • Mime
  • Pantomime scenes
  • Recitations from tragedies and comedies
  • Liturgical dramas or Religious plays
• Mystere de Adam or Mystery of Adam


  Dramatized version of a particular biblical event
• Theatrical Forms in High & Late Medieval Period

  • Feast of Fools festival
  • Mystery Plays
  • Morality Plays
  • Secular performances
  • Farces
  • Masques
• Mystery Plays


  Earliest formally developed plays in Medieval Europe, actors were all male amateur locals and used the vernacular in their plays
• Morality Plays


  Examples are "The Castle of Perseverance" and "Everyman"
• Secular performances


  Not religious, example is "Play of the Greenwood" by Allan de la Halle
• Farces


  Comedy with highly exaggerated and extravagant situations
• Masques


  Festive courtly entertainment in the 16th and 17th centuries, developed in Italy