From Restoration to Melodrama The Changing Economic and Political Landscape

The Glorious Revolution (1688) Roman Catholic James II Forced to Flee Parliament Requests William and Mary (James Daughter) to the Throne Lavish Restoration Court Replaced by Lutheran, German Court Not Against Theatre, But Not Big Fans

Rise of the Middle Class With No King at Theatre, Nature of Audience Changes Increasing Number of Rich Merchant Class at Theatre Decreasing Number of Nobility Audience Has More “Middle Class Morality” Tastes

Start of the Penny Papers The Spectator…1712 – Co-Authored by Addison and Steele – Essays on Politics, Economy, and Culture – The Roger DeCoverly Papers “Creating” an Audience

The Great Comedy Debate The Moral View…Collier’s “Short View…” in 1698 – “The business of plays is to recommend Vertue, and discountenance Vice” The Satirist’s View…Congreve in Preface to “Double Dealer” – “It is the business of a comic poet to paint the vices and follies of humankind”

“The Conscious Lovers” 1722…New Kind of Play/ Sentimental Comedy Smash Hit Comic Spectrum Swung Almost Completely Around