Realism and the Modern Theatre

Beliefs A call to return the theatre to “serious” pursuits as opposed to the commercial interests of melodrama and comedy. Theatre shouldn’t be a frivolous entertainment but serious, artful expression. A call to return the theatre to “serious” pursuits as opposed to the commercial interests of melodrama and comedy. Theatre shouldn’t be a frivolous entertainment but serious, artful expression.

Realism in Theatre  Truth lies in the observable physical world  Art is to be for the betterment of humankind, with artist as scientist  Plays were set in contemporary times because that is all the playwright could observe firsthand.  Subjects were contemporary life and its problems.

The first director – The Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

Unity in design to create the illusion of reality  Setting was part of the play so actors used it rather than performing in front of it.  Details had to be three dimensional rather than painted if they were to appear real.  Actors blocked to resemble natural movement

Realistic Blocking

Sets and costumes were created to be authentic to the era the play is set in. No longer did people only wear contemporary clothing, regardless of when the plot took place.

Naturalism – Andre Antoine  Created use of the 4 th Wall  Had real objects onstage (trees, sides of beef) to further enhance the naturalism.  Actors should appear to be people, not actors and say lines conversationally.  Box sets used over wing and backdrop.

Modern Box Stage Proscenium Arch

Features of box stage:  Wings, Curtain, Lighting above  Cat walk  Clouds for hiding the scenery  Element of surprise  Trap door  Forth wall illusion

“The Lower Depths” by Gorki examined life in the flophouse. All stage elements reflected this setting.

Realism Becomes Dominant  Realism offered a style of reality that was watch-able and that audiences could appreciate.  Realism is still the dominant form of theatre, especially in the United States.

Famous playwright and director Chekhov and Stanislavski

Moscow Art Theatre  Chekhov’s plays demanded a new style of acting that would teach actors how to create realistic, multi-layered characters while also being understood by the audience.  Stanislavski developed a method of acting, often called Realism, which trained actors for performing realism. It is the most popular training method today in the United States.

Playwrights Heinrich Ibsen - NorwegianA Doll’s House, Hedda Gabler  Credited with writing the first pieces of realism that attacked society’s values. Plays tackled issues of the role of women, euthanasia, morality of war and other morality of war and other social issues. social issues.

George Bernard Shaw English Pygmalion, Saint Joan, Man and Superman  Almost always wrote comedies that dealt with social issues of the times. Made realism accepted in England.