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240 B.C
The beginnings of Roman
theatre recorded
The first record of drama at
the
Roman Theatre
Borrowed Greek ideas and
improved (?) upon them
Topics less philosophical
Entertainment tended to be
grandiose, sentimental,
diversionary
Roman Theatre
Included more than drama :
acrobatics
gladiators
jugglers
athletics
chariots races
naumachia (sea battles)
boxing
venationes (animal fights)
Roman Theatre
3 Major Influences
Greek Drama
Etruscan influences, which
emphasized circus-like
elements
Fabula Atellana which
introduced FARCE (Atella was
Roman Theatre
Farce
Short improvised farces, with
stock characters, similar
costumes and masks
based on domestic life or
mythology
burlesque, parody
Most popular during the 1st
Roman Theatre
Farce
Probably was the foundation
for commedia dell Arte
Productions included stock
characters:
Bucco: braggart, boisterous
Pappas: foolish old man
Dossenus: swindler, drunk,
hunchback
Roman Theatre
Pantomime
solo dance, with music
(lutes, pipes, cymbals) and
a chorus.
Used masks
The story-telling was
usually mythology or
historical stories, usually
serious but sometimes
Roman Theatre
Mime
overtook after 2nd century
A.D.
The Church did not like Mime
Most common attributes of
mime:
Spoken
Usually short
Sometimes elaborate casts
Roman Theatre
Roman Festivals
Held 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
Roman Festivals
Acting 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
Roman Festivals
ludi = 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
Roman Tragedy
Characteristics of Roman
Tragedy
5 acts/episodes divided by
choral odes
included elaborate
speeches
interested in morality
unlike Greeks, they
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
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
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
Roman Comedy
Characteristics of Roman
Comedy
Chorus 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-inLaw
More complex plots
combined stories from
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.
dressing rooms
in side wings
stage was
covered with
a room
Cavea
the
auditoriu
m
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 Actors
Style of Acting
Mostly Greek traditions
masks, doubling of roles
Tragedy slow, stately,
Comedymore rapid and
conversational
Roman Actors
Style of Acting
Movements likely enlarged
Actors probably specialized
in one type of drama, but
did others
Encores if favorite speeches
given (no attempt at
Roman Actors
Style of Acting
Mimes no masks
Used Greek or Roman
costumes
Lots of music