Ch09 The Theatre of the English Restoration.docx

The Theatre of the English Restoration Objectives After studying this chapter, the student should be able to: Compare and contrast heroic and Restoration tragedy. Differentiate among various Restoration comedies. Describe the organization of acting companies during the Restoration. Describe the relationship between government and the Restoration Theater. Describe theatre architecture, scenery, costumes and lighting. Lecture Topics Who were the major Restoration playwrights? Who were the leading actors of the Restoration? How did the government affect the production of theatre during the Restoration? Discussion Topics How does The Country Wife exemplify Restoration Comedy? Describe Restoration audiences. Describe the acting style of the English Restoration. Compare and contrast Eleanor Gwynn and Anne Bracegirdle. What made the scenic practices of Restoration England distinct from those of Italy and France? Multiple-Choice Please choose the answer that best completes each sentence. 1. Nell Gwynn was an actress during the Restoration period, who specialized in ________________________________________. A. melodramas B. Shakespearean roles *C. "breeches roles" D. classical roles 2. Who removed Charles I from the throne? A. Mary, queen of Scots B. Queen Elizabeth *C. Oliver Cromwell D. Jeremy Collier 3. To whom did Charles II grant a monopoly on theatre? *A. Davenant and Killigrew B. Wycherley and Congrieve C. Centlivre and Behn D. Betterton and Dryden 4. _____________________ features extraordinary characters who undertake extraordinary deeds and contains themes of love and honor. A. Restoration tragedy *B. Heroic tragedy C. Comedy of Intrigue D. Melodrama 5. Who was the first woman known to make her living as a playwright? A. Willa Congreve B. Susanna Centlivre *C. Aphra Behn D. Mrs. Hallam 6. Writing such plays as The Country Wife, ________________ satirized the elegant society of Restoration England. A. William Congreve B. Moliere C. Oliver Goldsmith *D. William Wycherley 7. Who wrote The Way of the World? A. Sophocles B. William Shakespeare C. John Dryden *D. William Congreve 8. What play has the "china closet" scene? A. Way of the World *B. Country Wife C. All for Love D. Romeo and Juliet 9. The type of theater space preferred during the Restoration was the: A. thrust stage *B. proscenium stage C. arena stage D. multi-focus stage 10. ______________ was able to circumvent the ordinances against the theatre during the Commonwealth period by describing his presentations as musical entertainments. A. Richard Brinsley Sheridan B. William Wycherly *C. William Davenant D. George Farquhar 11. _______________, which was influenced by the French dramatist Molière, focuses on the fashions and foibles of the upper class. A. Comedy of Intrigue *B. Comedy of Manners C. Comedy of Humour D. Sentimental Comedy 12. Willaim Congreve’s ________________ is often considered a bridge between Restoration comedy and eighteenth-century, English sentimental comedy. A. The Country Wife *B. The Way of the World C. The School For Scandal D. She Stoops to Conquer 13. Catherine Trotter, Mary Piz, and Delariviere Manley, known collectively as the __________________, worked to increase the involvement of female playwrights in English theatre. *A. female wits B. playwright advocates C. daughters of Aphra Behn D. breeches playwrights 14. Which of the following is true of Restoration audiences: A. They are thought to have spoken back to actors. B. They purchased fruit from “orange wenches.” C. They came to be seen, rather than to see the play. *D. All of the above. 15. A favorite dramatic device in the Restoration was to have a woman dress as a man in parts known as: *A. breeches roles B. gender roles C. ingenue roles D. bracegirdle roles 16. Perhaps the most famous actress of the Restoration was ____________, who went from the slums of London to the King’s palace. A. Eleanora Duse B. Aphra Behn *C. Nell Gwynn D. Susan Centlivre 17. The greatest actor of the Restoration stage was: A. John Dryden *B. Thomas Betterton C. Thomas Killegrew D. Samuel Whitbread 18. Under the ______________, London actors were hired for a specific period of time at a set salary, rather than depending on the profits and losses of the company. A. shareholding system B. declamatory system C. patent system *D. contract system 19. In order to increase their wages, actors were provided with yearly A. stock options B. revival shares *C. benefits D. residuals 20. Which of the following is true of the Restoration theater: *A. The stage was divided into two nearly equal halves. B. Spectators stood in the pit area. C. The theaters seated about 3,000 people. D. All of the above 21. How was the stage lit during the Restoration? A. Windows provided sunlight. B. Candles were placed above the stage. C. Footlights were used. *D. All of the above 22. Restoration audiences were primarily composed of *A. the upper class. B. the middle class. C. the lower class. D. an equal mixture of all classes. 23. Short versions of full-length plays known as _____________ were the form of drama most often staged at the Salisbury Court Theatre during the Commonwealth. A. interludes B. pastorals C. intrigues *D. drolls 24. __________________, known for her virtuous reputation, achieved popularity for her portrayal of clever urban women. A. Eleanor Gwynn B. Catherine Trotter *C. Anne Bracegirdle D. Ann Oldfield 25. ____________________ was the most commercially successful woman playwright in the English Restoration. *A. Susanna Centlivre B. Anne Bracegirdle C. Mary Pix D. Nell Gwynn 26. Having written such plays as The Beaux’ Strategem, _______________ is remembered for a more realistic style and gentle treatment of characters. *A. George Farquhar B. Thomas Betterton C. William Wycherly D. William Congreve True/False Please choose whether the statement is true or false. 27. During the Restoration it was an accepted, and commonly used, practice for playwrights to “borrow” from the works of other writers. *True False 28. Actresses appeared on the English stage during the Restoration period. *True False 29. Historically accurate costuming was used in Restoration theatres. True *False 30. Writing comedies of intrigue, Nell Gwynn was the first woman to make her living as a playwright in England. *True False 31. During the Restoration period, “The Female Wits” were a group of actress-managers. True *False 32. The revival of the English Theatre in the second half of the seventeenth century came about through the efforts of William Davenant and Thomas Killegrew. *True False 33. The Restoration began in 1660. *True False 34. William Wycherly wrote The Way of the World, considered a failure in its own time and now thought to be one of the best Restoration comedies. *True False 35. Edwin Booth was the leading actor of the Restoration. True *False 36. There was no apron stage in use during the Restoration. True *False Essays/Activities 37. Compare and contrast two forms of Restoration Comedy. 38. Sketch the ground plan of a Restoration stage. How does this stage differ from those of earlier periods?