Medieval Medieval TheaterTheater500-1400 500-1400 C.E.C.E.

The Dark Ages (500-The Dark Ages (500-1000 1000 C.E.C.E.))

Much political turmoilMuch political turmoil– no reliable political structure no reliable political structure – Feudalism: Lords, vassals, serfsFeudalism: Lords, vassals, serfs

The Church was the only stable The Church was the only stable "government" "government" – The church exerted increasing influenceThe church exerted increasing influence

In the 4th Century, the Bishop of Rome established In the 4th Century, the Bishop of Rome established supremacy in church matters and in secular concerns supremacy in church matters and in secular concerns

– Church edicts against secular performersChurch edicts against secular performers Not much theaterNot much theater

– Traveling singers and storytellersTraveling singers and storytellers– Traveling troupes of circus-like entertainersTraveling troupes of circus-like entertainers

Hrosvitha of Gandersheim (935-(935-1001 1001 C.E.C.E.))

Earliest known female Earliest known female dramatistdramatist

A German nunA German nun Wrote religious plays Wrote religious plays

based on Terence's based on Terence's playsplays– Terence’s style, but Terence’s style, but

Christian storiesChristian stories– Were probably “closet Were probably “closet

dramas” dramas” meant to be read, not meant to be read, not

performedperformed Purpose was to glorify Purpose was to glorify

Christian virginsChristian virgins

Theatre is Reborn!Theatre is Reborn! Changes in musicChanges in music

– TropesTropes Extended musical passages spread Extended musical passages spread

throughout Catholic Massthroughout Catholic Mass Lyrics added laterLyrics added later

Quem quaeritisQuem quaeritis– Trope added into Easter service in 925Trope added into Easter service in 925– Angel asked, “Whom do you seek?” to Angel asked, “Whom do you seek?” to

three Marys visiting tomb of Christthree Marys visiting tomb of Christ

Quem quaeritis?Quem quaeritis?

Quem quaeritis in sepulchro, o Quem quaeritis in sepulchro, o Christicolae?Christicolae?

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

Non est hic; surrexit, sicut Non est hic; surrexit, sicut praedixerat. Ite, nuntiate praedixerat. Ite, nuntiate

quia surrexit de sepulchroquia surrexit de sepulchro

– Translation:Translation: The Angels: Whom do ye seek in The Angels: Whom do ye seek in

the sepulcher, O followers of the sepulcher, O followers of Christ? Christ?

The Marys: Jesus of Nazareth, The Marys: Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified, O heavenly ones. the Crucified, O heavenly ones.

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

——John Glassner, editor, John Glassner, editor, Medieval and Tudor DramaMedieval and Tudor Drama. .

Liturgical DramasLiturgical Dramas By 975, church began By 975, church began

incorporating drama into the incorporating drama into the serviceservice– Clergy presented with Clergy presented with

assistance from choirboysassistance from choirboys– Written in LatinWritten in Latin

Many playlets developed Many playlets developed dealing with biblical themesdealing with biblical themes– Mostly performed for Easter, Mostly performed for Easter,

Christmas, the 12th Night Christmas, the 12th Night (Feast of the Epiphany)(Feast of the Epiphany)

– Usually serious, but at the Usually serious, but at the Feast of Fools much Feast of Fools much dancing, foolishness and dancing, foolishness and parodies of church practices parodies of church practices

Staging Liturgical DramaStaging Liturgical Drama Different scenes set up simultaneously in mansionsDifferent scenes set up simultaneously in mansions

– Mansions: scenic structure depicting some locale needed Mansions: scenic structure depicting some locale needed for a biblical talefor a biblical tale Could be specially constructed or an existing area within churchCould be specially constructed or an existing area within church

– Used to indicate locale, but too small to perform inUsed to indicate locale, but too small to perform in Would initiate play at a mansion and move to plateaWould initiate play at a mansion and move to platea

Vernacular DramaVernacular Drama Moved outdoorsMoved outdoors Written in language people spokeWritten in language people spoke Two types of Vernacular religious Two types of Vernacular religious

dramasdramas– Mystery or cycle playsMystery or cycle plays– Morality playsMorality plays

Mystery/Cycle PlaysMystery/Cycle Plays Depicted scenes from the BibleDepicted scenes from the Bible

– From Creation to the last judgmentFrom Creation to the last judgment Presented in cyclesPresented in cycles

– Series of short dramas of an episodeSeries of short dramas of an episode Lasted several hours or several daysLasted several hours or several days Staged independently of church Staged independently of church

servicesservices– Presented in spring and summer during Presented in spring and summer during

festivalsfestivals Feast of Corpus Christi was a favorite timeFeast of Corpus Christi was a favorite time

Reaching the AudienceReaching the Audience Anachronism: presenting characters Anachronism: presenting characters

and events outside proper historical and events outside proper historical sequencesequence– Makes characters more identifiable to Makes characters more identifiable to

audiencesaudiences Highlighted the spectacularHighlighted the spectacular

– 1501 production of the Flood used barrels 1501 production of the Flood used barrels of water to make it “rain” for 5 minutesof water to make it “rain” for 5 minutes

Comedy introduced to make it more Comedy introduced to make it more appealingappealing

Producing Mystery PlaysProducing Mystery Plays Produced once every 2-10 yearsProduced once every 2-10 years Confraternities, or craft guilds, assigned Confraternities, or craft guilds, assigned

to a particular “appropriate” cycleto a particular “appropriate” cycle– Shipbuilders produce Noah’s ArkShipbuilders produce Noah’s Ark– Baker’s guild produce Last SupperBaker’s guild produce Last Supper

Pageant Masters supervised productionsPageant Masters supervised productions– Responsible for construction of scenery, Responsible for construction of scenery,

stage, casting, disciplining actors, money stage, casting, disciplining actors, money takers, and narrator between playstakers, and narrator between plays

ActingActing Amateur actors doubled rolesAmateur actors doubled roles Fewer than 5 rehearsals for a cycleFewer than 5 rehearsals for a cycle

– Fined for missing or disrupting a Fined for missing or disrupting a rehearsalrehearsal

TypecastingTypecasting– Choosing people who have certain Choosing people who have certain

qualities in real life to play characters qualities in real life to play characters with similar qualitieswith similar qualities

Provided own costumes; Church Provided own costumes; Church assisted with more unusual costumesassisted with more unusual costumes

StagingStaging Processional StagingProcessional Staging

– Cycle set up on pageant wagonsCycle set up on pageant wagons– Could be moved from locale to localeCould be moved from locale to locale

Stationary StagingStationary Staging– Series of small scenic mansions stood Series of small scenic mansions stood

side by side with huge platform stageside by side with huge platform stage– Heaven and Hell mansions placed at Heaven and Hell mansions placed at

opposite ends of platformopposite ends of platform Important: neutral platform playing Important: neutral platform playing

areaarea

These pictures were taken during the performance of the York Cycle of Mystery Plays in Toronto on June 20, 1998.

The Second Shepherd’s The Second Shepherd’s PlayPlay

Dramatizes the biblical story of the Dramatizes the biblical story of the shepherds who are told about Christ’s birth shepherds who are told about Christ’s birth by an angelby an angel– First section is comedicFirst section is comedic

Stealing a sheep and find it in a crib, pretending it’s a Stealing a sheep and find it in a crib, pretending it’s a newborn babynewborn baby

– Second section is the Holy NativitySecond section is the Holy Nativity First section sets stage for nativityFirst section sets stage for nativity

Shepherds are characters from Middle AgesShepherds are characters from Middle Ages Reflects secular farce mixed with religious Reflects secular farce mixed with religious

subject mattersubject matter

The Second Shepherd's Play

1972 – UMBC Department of

Theatre

Morality PlaysMorality Plays Attempts to teach a moral lesson Attempts to teach a moral lesson

through use of allegorical charactersthrough use of allegorical characters– People represent ideasPeople represent ideas

Characters take journey through Characters take journey through which they learn moral lessonwhich they learn moral lesson– Struggle between two forces, good and Struggle between two forces, good and

evil, for soul of main characterevil, for soul of main character Staging was similar to cycle playsStaging was similar to cycle plays

– Neutral platform stageNeutral platform stage

EverymanEveryman Best known example of a Best known example of a

morality playmorality play Character Everyman told by Character Everyman told by

Death that his earthly life is Death that his earthly life is overover– Everyman seeks companion to Everyman seeks companion to

accompany him to next worldaccompany him to next world– Speaks to characters representing Speaks to characters representing

abstract ideas, but only Good abstract ideas, but only Good Deeds will go with him to afterlifeDeeds will go with him to afterlife

Lesson to Everyman Lesson to Everyman (humanity): only Good Deeds (humanity): only Good Deeds can be of any assistance when can be of any assistance when one is summoned by Deathone is summoned by Death

QuizQuiz1.1. What does vernacular mean?What does vernacular mean?2.2. What does What does Quem QuaeritisQuem Quaeritis mean? mean?3.3. Why is Why is Quem QuaeritisQuem Quaeritis important to theater? important to theater?4.4. What is an anachronism?What is an anachronism?5.5. Name a mystery play.Name a mystery play.6.6. Name a morality play.Name a morality play.7.7. Who was responsible for cycle play productions?Who was responsible for cycle play productions?8.8. What is a mansion?What is a mansion?9.9. Name the favorite festival in which cycle plays Name the favorite festival in which cycle plays

were performed.were performed.10.10. What did the Bishop of Rome establish?What did the Bishop of Rome establish?