Modern TheaterModern Theater

Oh the Drama!Oh the Drama!

Modern drama, like modern painting Modern drama, like modern painting and other forms of modern art, and other forms of modern art, developed not in the twentieth developed not in the twentieth century, but during the 19century, but during the 19thth century century

Modern theater was born out of a Modern theater was born out of a widespread reaction against the widespread reaction against the subject matters, forms, and methods subject matters, forms, and methods of staging that had prevailed in many of staging that had prevailed in many 1818thth century and early 19 century and early 19thth plays. plays.

Largely plays from this era are Largely plays from this era are missing the romantic melodrama or missing the romantic melodrama or neoclassical tragedy.neoclassical tragedy.

Rather a new form of theater was Rather a new form of theater was coming about.coming about.

RealismRealism

““Reality” in turn became a Reality” in turn became a watchword among early modern watchword among early modern dramatists, actors, directors, and set dramatists, actors, directors, and set designers.designers.

Realism in its most literal sense Realism in its most literal sense developed out of a desire to bring developed out of a desire to bring the stage into greater conformity the stage into greater conformity with the surface details or ordinary with the surface details or ordinary human experience.human experience.

The illusion of 3DThe illusion of 3D

To create the illusion of a three-To create the illusion of a three-dimensional interior, nineteenth dimensional interior, nineteenth century set designers devised a set century set designers devised a set compose of flats arranged to form compose of flats arranged to form connected walls enclosing three sides connected walls enclosing three sides of the stage with the fourth wall of the stage with the fourth wall removed so that the audience could removed so that the audience could look into a stage room that spatially look into a stage room that spatially seemed just like a real one. The seemed just like a real one. The realistic illusion of this stage design is realistic illusion of this stage design is known as known as Box SetBox Set

New advances:New advances:

With box sets came With box sets came movable windows movable windows and doorsand doors

Interior walls of the set were decorated Interior walls of the set were decorated and hung with fixturesand hung with fixtures

Lighting changed with the advent of Lighting changed with the advent of gaslights as well as oil lights which could gaslights as well as oil lights which could show the illusion of sunlight or moonlightshow the illusion of sunlight or moonlight

False thickness: False thickness: which made the which made the sets appear to sets appear to have more depth have more depth then they may then they may really have. really have.

Theater still follows the Theater still follows the same story structuresame story structure

Stage terminologyStage terminology Blocking - Blocking is the movement that the Blocking - Blocking is the movement that the

director gives the actors. The director director gives the actors. The director blocksblocks the play or tells the actors where to move the play or tells the actors where to move when he is directing. when he is directing.

Upstage – Toward or on the rear part of the Upstage – Toward or on the rear part of the stagestage

Downstage – The Portion of the acting area Downstage – The Portion of the acting area nearest the audiencenearest the audience

Stage Left – The part of the stage on the Stage Left – The part of the stage on the actor’s left as the actor faces the audienceactor’s left as the actor faces the audience

Stage Right – The part of the stage on the Stage Right – The part of the stage on the actor’s right as the actor faces the audience.actor’s right as the actor faces the audience.