Roman Civilization & Drama
Historical Background:
Romans assimilated Greeks Early Romans called Etruscans
Large Empire with Continual Conquest
Militaristic, Federal or Republican Operation in
Government
Ludi or Festivals eventually included "games"
with Gladitorial Matches and Naumachia.
Theatre as a popular event or entertainment
Playwrights:
 |
Plautus |
|
Seneca |
|
Terrence |
|
Genres: |
Theatrical Genres:
Roman Tragedy:
|
Greek Themes or Roman Themes |
|
Horrifying Pots |
|
5 Acts |
|
Elaborate Speeches |
|
Moral Conclusions and Problems |
|
Violence on Stage |
Roman Comedy:
|
Based on Greek "New Comedy |
|
Chorus Abandoned |
|
Musical Elements Scattered (modern musical) |
|
Everyday Domestic Themes |
|
Staged Outdoors |
|
Women "offstage" when not in use |
Mime:
|
Close
mouth, Single Actor, Street Theatre |
Pantomime:
|
"Skits" of original and classic comedic
plays, simplified, and "sexed up" |
Fabulla Atellena:
|
Short Farce, Stock Characters, Improvised Dialogue,
Plots based on Trickery (roots of Commedia Dell'Arte) |
Theatrical Conventions:
|
Women as Women |
|
Violence |
Theatre:
|
Audience Same more Intimate |
|
Semi-circle Orchestra |
|
Big Scanae Frons |
|
Doors Arch Windows Architecture |
|
Partial Roof and Grand Act Drape |
Decline of Rome:
Decadence and Immorality (Nero and Caligula)
Leads to Christian Revival and Ethics (Justinian)
Imperial restrictions
Move to Constantinople (Constantine)
Economic and Military over expansion eventual collapse
Leads to Dark Ages (Little or no Recorded History, No
Government, No Education)
Byzantine Empire and Byzantium (Byzantine)