1. Romanticism Europe and America mid-1700s to mid-1800s
movement in art, literature, music, theatre…
reaction against Neoclassicism

2. Romanticism emotional rather than intellectual focused on topics like
nature
human individualism
innocence of past and children
the supernatural or mysterious

3. Romanticism - Germany
sturm and drang = (“storm and stress”); a sub-category of Romanticism
Goethe - Faust

4. Romanticism - France Victor Hugo – Hernani
caused a riot—not “neo-classical enough” (common people as protagonists, struggle against gov’t, violence, death, and humor)

5. Some Famous Actors of the Time
David Garrick
Sarah Siddons
Edmund Kean
Henry Irving (1st English actor to be knighted)
Sarah Bernhardt
Edwin Booth

6. Romantic Theatre Upper class—opera, ballet; middle-class—theatre
As seeing becomes more important than hearing the orchestra seats (which had up till then been the cheap seats) became more valuable.
Scenery included drops, flats, and ground rows (cutaway flats standing free on the stage floor).

8. Romantic Theatre
natural settings - carefully and realistically painted
candles or oil lamps – but by 1830, gaslight was used
special effects: flying, trap doors, water pump systems, moving panoramas to give the illusion of travel, treadmills by the late 1800 (allowed for horses and chariot races, etc.), volcanic eruptions, fires, etc.

9. Romantic Theatre
Romanticism was not at all realistic in its acting, drama, or direction
In set, costume, and lighting it attempted to be as realistic as possible
the rise of the director

10. Plays During This Time…
There were still some successful playwrights using the Comedy of Manners style.
Richard Sheridan
The School for Scandal; The Rivals
In the play The Rivals, there is a character named Mrs. Malaprop—she had a habit of mixing up words and using them incorrectly (which was humorous)—we get the term malapropism from her.

11. Some Malaprops/Malapropisms…
“groinocology” – Archie Bunker
“Alcoholics Unanimous” – Mayor Richard Daley
“electrical votes” – Yogi Berra
"Well I try to look at the bright side. I guess you could say I'm an internal optometrist.“ – Steve Carell, Dinner for Schmucks
“Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and a child.” – former VP Dan Quayle

12. Romantic Theatre - Melodrama
exaggerated plot and characters to appeal to emotions
orchestral music or song often accompanied the action (add to emotion)
use of stock characters
a hero (always the fearless one)
heroine (the love of the hero, usually the one that the hero saves)
villain (usually likes the heroine too)
villain's sidekick (typically gets in the way of or annoys the villain).

14. Romantic Theatre - Burlesque
elaborate and spectacular theatrical production (extravaganza)
a comic, musical play that parodies (imitates and mocks) a well-known opera, play, or ballet
sometimes cross-dressing (“breeches roles”)
later associated with variety show, bawdy comedy, and female striptease.