The Origins of The Origins of English English

TheatreTheatre

Fabio PesaresiFabio Pesaresifpesaresi@aliceposta.itfpesaresi@aliceposta.it

Classical TheatreClassical Theatre►Greek Theatre: Greek Theatre:

Ritual functionRitual function CatharsisCatharsis

►Roman Theatre:Roman Theatre: inoffensive inoffensive

entertainmententertainment

End of Classical TheatreEnd of Classical Theatre

early VI century:early VI century:

last representation in Romelast representation in Rome

Medieval TheatreMedieval Theatre

►Originated from the Originated from the Christian liturgyChristian liturgy

► EasterEaster as the as the climax of the yearclimax of the year

►Gospel read by Gospel read by clericals clericals Tropes Tropes

Evolution of Medieval Evolution of Medieval TheatreTheatre

1.1. TropesTropes

2.2. Mystery PlaysMystery Plays

3.3. Miracle PlaysMiracle Plays

4.4. Morality PlaysMorality Plays

5.5. InterludesInterludes

TropesTropes► significant sections of the mass which were significant sections of the mass which were

elaborated until they became short liturgical elaborated until they became short liturgical dramasdramas

► ““Quem quaeritis?”Quem quaeritis?”Easter trope consisting of Easter trope consisting of few lines exchanged few lines exchanged between the three Marys and the angel when between the three Marys and the angel when they visit Christ's tomb. Several existing they visit Christ's tomb. Several existing variations of this trope show the development variations of this trope show the development of the trope into a short liturgical play with of the trope into a short liturgical play with characters, additional dialogue, set, props, characters, additional dialogue, set, props, costumes, and stage directions.costumes, and stage directions.

Interrogatio. Quem quaeritis in sepulchro, o Christicolae?

Responsio. Jesum Nazarenum crucifixum, o Responsio. Jesum Nazarenum crucifixum, o caelicolae.caelicolae.

Angeli. Non est hic; surrexit, sicut praedixerat. Angeli. Non est hic; surrexit, sicut praedixerat. Ite, nuntiate quia surrexit de sepulchro Ite, nuntiate quia surrexit de sepulchro

(Question [by the Angels}. Whom do ye seek (Question [by the Angels}. Whom do ye seek in the sepulcher, O followers of Christ? in the sepulcher, O followers of Christ?

Answer [ by the Marys] Jesus of Nazareth, who Answer [ by the Marys] Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, just as he foretold. was crucified, just as he foretold.

The Angels. He is not here: he is risen, just as The Angels. He is not here: he is risen, just as he foretold. Go, announce that he is risen he foretold. Go, announce that he is risen from the sepulcher) from the sepulcher)

Potential problems:Potential problems:Some episodes, such as the Massacre of the Some episodes, such as the Massacre of the

Innocents, forced the monks to deal with Innocents, forced the monks to deal with several potential problems: several potential problems:

► how should such a character like Herod be how should such a character like Herod be portrayed? portrayed?

►was it appropriate to enact such terrible was it appropriate to enact such terrible crimes in the church? crimes in the church?

►was it appropriate for a monk to enact an was it appropriate for a monk to enact an evil character?evil character?

Mystery PlaysMystery PlaysMysteryMystery::

► One that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the One that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma: understanding; an enigma: How he got in is a mystery.How he got in is a mystery.

► A mysterious character or quality: A mysterious character or quality: a landscape with mystery and a landscape with mystery and charm.charm.

► A work of fiction, a drama, or a film dealing with a puzzling crime. A work of fiction, a drama, or a film dealing with a puzzling crime. ► A religious truth that is incomprehensible to reason and knowable A religious truth that is incomprehensible to reason and knowable

only through divine revelation. only through divine revelation. An incident from the life of Jesus, especially the Incarnation, Passion, An incident from the life of Jesus, especially the Incarnation, Passion,

Crucifixion, or Resurrection, of particular importance for redemptionCrucifixion, or Resurrection, of particular importance for redemption. . One of the 15 incidents from the lives of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, One of the 15 incidents from the lives of Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary,

such as the Annunciation or the Ascension, serving in Roman Catholicism such as the Annunciation or the Ascension, serving in Roman Catholicism as the subject of meditation during recitation of the rosary. as the subject of meditation during recitation of the rosary.

►[Middle English misterie, from Latin myst rium, from Greek must rion, [Middle English misterie, from Latin myst rium, from Greek must rion, secret ritesecret rite, from must s, , from must s, an initiatean initiate, from m ein, , from m ein, to close the eyes, to close the eyes, initiateinitiate.] .]

Mystery PlaysMystery Plays

MysteryMystery

==

an incident from the life of Jesus, especially an incident from the life of Jesus, especially the Incarnation, Passion, Crucifixion, or the Incarnation, Passion, Crucifixion, or

Resurrection, of particular importance for Resurrection, of particular importance for redemptionredemption

Mystery Plays Mystery Plays ► represented at first represented at first

inside the church by inside the church by churchmen churchmen

► in Latinin Latin

► episodes from the episodes from the Gospel or from the BibleGospel or from the Bible

► faithful to the Sacred faithful to the Sacred TextsTexts

Mystery plays: Mystery plays: subjectssubjects

► CreationCreation

► Adam and EveAdam and Eve

► The FloodThe Flood

► The CrucifixionThe Crucifixion

► The ResurrectionThe Resurrection

Mystery Plays:Mystery Plays:evolutionevolution

13th century:13th century:

various guilds began various guilds began producing the playsproducing the plays

► in the vernacular in the vernacular

► at sites removed at sites removed from the churchesfrom the churches

Mystery Plays: the guildsMystery Plays: the guilds► Cardmakers. God Cardmakers. God

Creates Adam and Eve.Creates Adam and Eve.

► Glovers. Sacrificium Glovers. Sacrificium Cayme et Abell.Cayme et Abell.

► Shipwrites. Building of Shipwrites. Building of the Ark.the Ark.

► Fysshers and Fysshers and Marynars. Noah and Marynars. Noah and the Flood.the Flood.

► Masonns. Coming of Masonns. Coming of the Three Kings to the Three Kings to Herod.Herod.

Mystery PlaysMystery Plays► lengthy cycleslengthy cycles

► Took many daysTook many days

► represented by represented by professionalsprofessionals

► acted on moving acted on moving stagesstages

The PageantThe Pageant► moveable carriage on moveable carriage on

six wheelssix wheels

► two vertical rooms:two vertical rooms: lower room for the actors lower room for the actors

to prepare themselvesto prepare themselves upper room for the actingupper room for the acting

► use of mechanical use of mechanical devices: trapdoors, devices: trapdoors, flying angels, fire-flying angels, fire-spouting monstersspouting monsters

consequencesconsequences►strictly religious nature of the plays strictly religious nature of the plays

declineddeclined

►they became filled with irrelevancies they became filled with irrelevancies and apocryphal elementsand apocryphal elements

►satirical elements were introduced to satirical elements were introduced to mock physicians, soldiers, judges, and mock physicians, soldiers, judges, and even monks and priests. even monks and priests.

Mystery Plays: importance and Mystery Plays: importance and rolerole

►Gave pride to the communityGave pride to the community

►Lasted many days (up to 40)Lasted many days (up to 40)

►Gave a moral teachingGave a moral teaching

►Provided entertainment with comic Provided entertainment with comic elementselements

Miracle playsMiracle plays► a real or fictitious account of the life, a real or fictitious account of the life,

miracles, or martyrdom of a sainmiracles, or martyrdom of a saintt

► in vernacularin vernacular

► performed at public festivalsperformed at public festivals

► not controlled by clerical authoritiesnot controlled by clerical authorities

► filled with unecclesiastical elementsfilled with unecclesiastical elements

End of Mystery and Miracle End of Mystery and Miracle PlaysPlays

15761576 : last recorded : last recorded productionproduction

Reasons:Reasons:► Reformation considered Reformation considered

them too connected to them too connected to poperypopery

► Productions had Productions had become too expensivebecome too expensive

► Other forms of theatre Other forms of theatre had become availablehad become available