Roman TheatreRoman Theatre

LVV-4U1LVV-4U1

In Rome, the authorities were concerned that the Roman people might be corrupted by  Greek influences. 

•As a compromise, drama continued to presented at various religious festivals, but the theaters were all temporary structures, put up just before the peformances and taken down afterwards. 

•There were two abortive attempts to build permanent stone theaters in 179 and 174 BC, but they were never completed. 

• In 154 BC a third attempt was made to build a permanent stone theater, but the consul, P. Scipio Nasica, caused the unfinished structure to be torn down as "undesirable" and "harmful to public morals" (Livy, Periochae 48.68). 

In 55 BC Pompey erected the first permanent stone theater at Rome. There must, however,  have still been some opposition, for the theater was constructed in such a way that it could be seen as serving a religious purpose rather than for mere entertainment.   A temple of Venus was placed at the top of the seating area so that the rows of seats appeared to be steps leading up to the temple.

 

Temple of Venus

Pompey’s Permanent Pompey’s Permanent TheaterTheater

The Romans copied theater from Greece, and the best actors of Roman plays were usually Greek. Stage shows were first put on as part of religious festivals, and were later paid for by the wealthy to gain popularity.  Tickets were free-if you could get them.

Roman Theater/ Comedy

Greek theaters were typically built into natural hillsides to provide better acoustics, as this theater in Epidaurus

or this one in Delphi

-built on level ground

Theatre of Marcellus(drawing)

Roman Theatre Design

General Characteristics• Stage raised to five feet

• Stages were large – 20- 40 ft deep100-300 ft long

Roman Theatre DesignGeneral Characteristics• Theatre could seat 10-15,000

people

• dressing rooms in side wings

• stage was covered with a roof

Portico

Roman Theatre Design

General Characteristics

• trap doors were common

• cooling system – air blowing over streams of water

• Awning (vellum) over the audience to protect them from the sun

Roman Theatre DesignScaena

• “stage house”

• joined with audience to form one architectural unit

Roman Theatre DesignScaena frons• front/façade of the stage

house

• was painted and had columns, niches, porticoes, statues

scaena frons

Roman Theatre Design

Orchestra• becomes half-circle

• if entertainment permitted, people were sat here

• could be used for musiciansThe original

Greek orchestrawas a full circle.

Roman Theatre DesignVomitori

a• corridors

under the seats that lead onto the orchestra

Roman Theatre DesignPulpitum• the stage

Cavea• the

auditorium

Features of a Roman Theater

•canvas awning•women spectators not allowed in front rows•front seats reserved for senators•all parts played by men•masks to indicate stock characters•3 doors for actors to enter and exit by•½ circle “orchestra”

The classic symbol of theater: tragic and comic masks . 

Since women could appear only in mimes, all roles were acted by men wearing masks representing the types of characters -

young and old, male and female, gods and heroes. 

This ancient carving of theatrical masks show the enlarged mouthopenings that helped amplify the actor’s voice

A TROUPE OF PLAYERS -

This mosaic shows a group of actors in costumes and masks. 

The piper is dressed as a woman and will be wearing the white mask of a female character.

Another actor is being helped into his costume

Comedy: The Italian Comedy: The Italian TraditionTradition

Horace: Horace:

““Captive Greece captivated its captors”Captive Greece captivated its captors” The art of comedy was passed to RomeThe art of comedy was passed to Rome As Athens was declining, the Romans had As Athens was declining, the Romans had

already picked up the comic traditionalready picked up the comic tradition According to Livy, they first appeared in According to Livy, they first appeared in

364 B.C.E.364 B.C.E. Dramatic rituals were intended to appease Dramatic rituals were intended to appease

the gods who had sent a plaguethe gods who had sent a plague

The Strands of the Italian The Strands of the Italian TraditionTradition

1.1. The pieces that the actors performed were The pieces that the actors performed were primitive and coarseprimitive and coarse

2.2. Improvisation was common to all comedy, but it Improvisation was common to all comedy, but it fell into disrepute with the rise of the actorfell into disrepute with the rise of the actor

3.3. Actors / Improvisors wore ill-fitting tights, Actors / Improvisors wore ill-fitting tights, padding, masks, and a huge leather phalluspadding, masks, and a huge leather phallus

4.4. The last strand involved cheating and trickery The last strand involved cheating and trickery (rustic and obscene and general tom foolery – (rustic and obscene and general tom foolery – particularly in the Italian countryside). Its most particularly in the Italian countryside). Its most interesting feature for our purposes was its use interesting feature for our purposes was its use of Stock Character: the braggart, the fool / the of Stock Character: the braggart, the fool / the clown, the gorgeous young lover, the foolish old clown, the gorgeous young lover, the foolish old man, the resourceful and cunning swindler, etc. man, the resourceful and cunning swindler, etc.

Roman Comedy …Roman Comedy …

Roman comedy concerned itself with man Roman comedy concerned itself with man at his most humanat his most human

What the theatre gained was a HUMAN What the theatre gained was a HUMAN being on stage – speaking in a being on stage – speaking in a recognizable human voicerecognizable human voice

Like all Classical Comedies:Like all Classical Comedies:– The plays ended happilyThe plays ended happily– The men played women’s rolesThe men played women’s roles– All actors wore masksAll actors wore masks– Actors travelled from town to town, playing at Actors travelled from town to town, playing at

festivals, on makeshift stagesfestivals, on makeshift stages

Tradition has it that it was an actor, Tradition has it that it was an actor, renowned for playing the part of a renowned for playing the part of a clown, “MACCUS,” who was to clown, “MACCUS,” who was to become the greatest of playwrightsbecome the greatest of playwrights

It is believed that his middle name – It is believed that his middle name – MACCUS – was given to him because MACCUS – was given to him because of his skill in playing the part of a of his skill in playing the part of a clownclown

Titus Maccius PlautusTitus Maccius Plautusca. 250 – 184 B.C.E.ca. 250 – 184 B.C.E.

He made a fortune in acting; He made a fortune in acting; he invested his money and lost it he invested his money and lost it

(traditional story – not proven)(traditional story – not proven) Copied from Greek New Comedy, Copied from Greek New Comedy,

but used Roman improvisation and comic but used Roman improvisation and comic inventioninvention

He was interested not only in plot, but in He was interested not only in plot, but in stock characters (made human beings out stock characters (made human beings out of them)of them)

Plautus had wonderful theatrical instinctsPlautus had wonderful theatrical instincts He requires a comic actor who has instinct He requires a comic actor who has instinct

for judging the audience’s reactionsfor judging the audience’s reactions

TerenceTerence(195-159 B.C.E.)(195-159 B.C.E.)

Was born a slave in North AfricaWas born a slave in North Africa Elegant and stylish playwrightElegant and stylish playwright Was 11 years old when Plautus diedWas 11 years old when Plautus died He was handsome, intelligent, and sensitive to criticismHe was handsome, intelligent, and sensitive to criticism He moved in aristocratic circlesHe moved in aristocratic circles He travelled to Greece to find new playsHe travelled to Greece to find new plays Was relatively young when he died (died of grief b/c his Was relatively young when he died (died of grief b/c his

baggage full of new plays was lost)baggage full of new plays was lost) Most of his plays were failures – he realized that times Most of his plays were failures – he realized that times

were changingwere changing Terence was shown scant respect because the Terence was shown scant respect because the

audience wanted acrobats, jugglers, gladiators, etc. --- audience wanted acrobats, jugglers, gladiators, etc. --- Spectacle!Spectacle!

Many of his plays were appreciated after his deathMany of his plays were appreciated after his death

The comedies were about wealthy people being kidnapped, or foolish old men and clever slaves, but they  usually had a happy ending.  •Plautus' comedies revolve mostly around daily life and average people•Characters are often stereo-types and greatly exaggerated

Comedies:

The fabulae palliatae had characters with Greek names in Greek settings, but the audience understood  that the characters were essentially Roman.  This practice allowed the playwright to turn Roman mores upside down without upsetting the audience or undermining Roman morality. 

The Romans called these adaptations of Greek comedies fabulae palliatae ('plays in a Greek cloak'). 

Avoid Censors!

The Father in Roman The Father in Roman Society Society

In real Roman society, the father's In real Roman society, the father's power (power (patria potestaspatria potestas) was legally ) was legally undisputed.undisputed.

A father had the power of life and A father had the power of life and death over his family and his death over his family and his household (especially slaves).  household (especially slaves). 

““Dumb Dad” CharacterDumb Dad” Character

Perhaps the most common inversion Perhaps the most common inversion of Roman values in Roman comedy is of Roman values in Roman comedy is the mockery of the father. the mockery of the father.

He is sometimes displayed as He is sometimes displayed as conservative and seriousconservative and serious

In comedy the son, often with the help In comedy the son, often with the help of a brash slave regularly outwits the of a brash slave regularly outwits the father and makes a fool of him.father and makes a fool of him.

Senex (Old Man / Father)Senex (Old Man / Father)

either too strict or too soft; either too strict or too soft; either one he does out of love either one he does out of love for his son. for his son.

As the lover he embarrasses As the lover he embarrasses his son, his slave, and his wife. his son, his slave, and his wife.

He tends to be passionately in He tends to be passionately in love with the same woman as love with the same woman as his son, who is much too his son, who is much too young for the young for the senexsenex..

He never gets the girl and is He never gets the girl and is often dragged off by his irate often dragged off by his irate wife. sometimes carries a staff.wife. sometimes carries a staff.

AdulescensAdulescens The The adulescensadulescens

was the hero, who was the hero, who is young, rich, love-is young, rich, love-struck and none struck and none too brave.too brave.

He tends to He tends to bemoan his fate bemoan his fate and requires and requires backup.backup.

Another character Another character often has to take often has to take action on his behalfaction on his behalf

The young man is often a typical The young man is often a typical young, loveryoung, lover

Minimal roleMinimal role Role of master/slave relationship is Role of master/slave relationship is

reversed (slave gives the orders)reversed (slave gives the orders)

Leno (Pimp)Leno (Pimp)

The The lenoleno runs the brothel. runs the brothel. The love interest of the The love interest of the adulescensadulescens may be may be

owned by the owned by the lenoleno and work at his brothel so the and work at his brothel so the adulescensadulescens is often forced to deal with him. is often forced to deal with him.

He is unabashedly amoral and is only interested He is unabashedly amoral and is only interested in money.in money.

He dresses in a tunic and mantel and is often bald He dresses in a tunic and mantel and is often bald with a moneybag.with a moneybag.

Miles Gloriosus (Bragging Miles Gloriosus (Bragging Soldier)Soldier)

He loves himself He loves himself more than anything more than anything else and sees himself else and sees himself as handsome and as handsome and brave, while in reality brave, while in reality he is very stupid, he is very stupid, cowardly, and cowardly, and gullible. gullible.

He may be interested He may be interested in the same girl as in the same girl as the the adulescens'. adulescens'.

In Roman times, soldiers were In Roman times, soldiers were revered; they enjoyed seeing figures revered; they enjoyed seeing figures of importance being mocked on stage of importance being mocked on stage (essential to Roman comedy)(essential to Roman comedy)

Audience likes to see the soldier Audience likes to see the soldier being cheatedbeing cheated

““blocking figure” – stops a love affair blocking figure” – stops a love affair between a young master and between a young master and prostituteprostitute

ServusServus servus callidusservus callidus or clever or clever

slave is always talkative, slave is always talkative, but his other traits vary.but his other traits vary.

Most of the time he is loyal, Most of the time he is loyal, more so to the more so to the adulescensadulescens than the than the senexsenex. .

He brings tricks and comedy He brings tricks and comedy and tends to drive the plot. and tends to drive the plot.

He is often the one who He is often the one who finds the truth out at the finds the truth out at the end of the play.end of the play.

““Free”

Upheaval of real life = comic effectUpheaval of real life = comic effect Often has co-conspiratorsOften has co-conspirators If slaves really behaved the way they If slaves really behaved the way they

did in a play, Romans would be did in a play, Romans would be outragesoutrages

Slave violence was hilarious to Romans Slave violence was hilarious to Romans (popular during the time of Plautus)(popular during the time of Plautus)

Romans use “slave violence” to show Romans use “slave violence” to show their powertheir power

Ancilla (maid or nurse)Ancilla (maid or nurse)

Can be of any ageCan be of any age She is a minor character used to She is a minor character used to

move the plot by presenting move the plot by presenting information or helping to develop information or helping to develop another character. another character.

She is a tool of her mistress and may She is a tool of her mistress and may be used as a messenger.be used as a messenger.

Virgo (Young maiden)Virgo (Young maiden)

The The virgovirgo (young (young maiden) is the love maiden) is the love interest of the interest of the adulescensadulescens,,

usually does not get usually does not get much stage time. much stage time.

She is beautiful and She is beautiful and virtuous with little virtuous with little personality. personality.

She is treated as a prizeShe is treated as a prize

Additional Comedy Notes:Additional Comedy Notes: CoincidenceCoincidence: typical occurrence: typical occurrence AsidesAsides: a character talks to the audience : a character talks to the audience

and the other characters don’t hearand the other characters don’t hear EndingEnding: happy; wrong-doers are punished; : happy; wrong-doers are punished;

lovers are reunited; bad are occasionally lovers are reunited; bad are occasionally punished; the slave wins his freedompunished; the slave wins his freedom

Mistaken IdentityMistaken Identity: intended or accidental: intended or accidental

MimesMimes: The Romans loved them: The Romans loved them JokesJokes: “potty” humour; jokes about bodily : “potty” humour; jokes about bodily

excretions; sex; and, drunkennessexcretions; sex; and, drunkenness EavesdroppingEavesdropping: occurred frequently: occurred frequently ProloguePrologue: interludes of retelling the plot: interludes of retelling the plot SurpriseSurprise: opposite of real Roman reality : opposite of real Roman reality

(i.e., slave orders free born citizen around; (i.e., slave orders free born citizen around; shy character or lover will do a minor shy character or lover will do a minor heroic deed for his beloved; mother heroic deed for his beloved; mother (Domina) will hold more power than the (Domina) will hold more power than the father (Senex) – yet Senex’s character is father (Senex) – yet Senex’s character is rarerare

Inscription PompeiiInscription Pompeii

Theater in Theater in PompeiiPompeii