1. Le Théàtre

2. Beginnings In France, began in the Middle Ages (12 th century) Dramatizations of rituals – Christmas and Easter Plays transferred from church hall open air Latin was substituted for vernacular

3. 12 th -15 th centuries: The Middle Ages Farce (humorous satire of human failings) Sottie (conversation among idiots) Mystery play (Christian mysteries/Saints’ lives) Morality play (educate through entertainment – choose a Godly life over one of evil) Physical humor and deliberate absurdity Miracle play (re-enactments of real-life miracles in ordinary lives) Passion play (re-enactment of Passion of Jesus Christ)

4. 12 th -15 th centuries: The Middle Ages Farce (humorous satire of human failings) Sottie (conversation among idiots) Mystery play (Christian mysteries/Saints’ lives) Morality play (educate through entertainment – choose a Godly life over one of evil) Physical humor and deliberate absurdity Miracle play (re-enactments of real-life miracles in ordinary lives) Passion play (re-enactment of Passion of Jesus Christ)

5. 16 th century: Renaissance Theatre Biblical tragedy (stories taken from the Bible) Ancient tragedy (stories taken from mythology or history) Contemporary tragedy (stories taken from recent events)

6. 17 th century: Baroque theatre Royal court had gotten tired of tragedies Molière (1622-1673) – a favorite of the king Satire – ridicules individuals and society for its shortcomings with a goal of improvement Tartuffe ou L’Imposteur Le Maladie Imaginaire Bourgeois Gentilhomme

7. Le Maladie Imaginaire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igh_D0t2S OEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igh_D0t2S OE

8. 18 th century: Classicism Three Unities Unity of place (the setting should not change) Unity of time (the entire play should take place in 24 hours) Unity of action (one central story, all secondary plots linked to it)

9. Late 18 th century: French Revolution Theater served as a forum for political expression and debate

10. 20 th century Theatrical experiments Influenced by Dada and Surrealism “Theatre of the Absurd” – refused simple explanations, abandoned traditional characters, plots, and staging Eugène Ionesco – Rhinoceros Berenger (protagonist) watches all his friends turn into rhinoceroses one by one until he is left alone Horror of ideological conformism

11. Rhinocéros http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9F1WE8ql sUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9F1WE8ql sU

12. La Danse

14. Ballet: Beginnings Began in Italian Renaissance courts of 15 th and 16 th centuries Quickly spread to French court Creation of classical ballet – Louis XIV Académie Royale de Danse 1672 Paris Opera Ballet – first professional ballet company

15. Types of Ballet Classical ballet (traditional ballet technique) Neoclassical ballet (more extreme tempos and more technical feats, less rigid, focus on structure) Contemporary ballet (influenced by ballet and modern dance – abdominal strength from classical ballet + greater range of movement)

16. Classical Ballet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWStlaBdx cghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWStlaBdx cg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDYW46Pj A8&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDYW46Pj A8&feature=related

17. Neoclassical Ballet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5UWI9N ZOEk&feature=results_main&playnext=1&lis t=PLB18F9005C5B833B8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5UWI9N ZOEk&feature=results_main&playnext=1&lis t=PLB18F9005C5B833B8

18. Contemporary Ballet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2k4RRf Bb0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2k4RRf Bb0

19. The Can-Can First appeared in working-class ballrooms in Paris Originally a dance for couples and individuals “Can-can” – “tittle-tattle” or “scandal” Many attempts to repress it (groups of men were arrested at public dance halls) Highly paid women performers at Moulin Rouge Now performed on stage in a chorus line French Can-Can: choreographed routine with opportunities for individuals to display their “specialties”

20. The Can-Can http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK0gYi1YE Z8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK0gYi1YE Z8