Romantic Era TheaterRomantic Era Theater

Romantic Era PlaysRomantic Era Plays

Romantic PlaysRomantic Plays, old and new, tended to , old and new, tended to appeal appeal to emotions rather than intellect.to emotions rather than intellect.Special effects therefore focused on the Special effects therefore focused on the supernatural and the mysterious supernatural and the mysterious visual over verbalvisual over verbal sensational rather than intellectualsensational rather than intellectual

Aristocrats tended to go to the opera and ballet, Aristocrats tended to go to the opera and ballet, and more middle-class now went to the theatre.and more middle-class now went to the theatre.Faust– Faust– Doctor makes a deal with the Devil in Doctor makes a deal with the Devil in order to live a few more years. order to live a few more years.

AudienceAudience

As seeing becomes more important than hearing As seeing becomes more important than hearing (remember, the sound was so important before, (remember, the sound was so important before, and detailed, realistic sets were not the norm), and detailed, realistic sets were not the norm), the orchestra seats (which had up till then been the orchestra seats (which had up till then been the cheap seats) became more valuable.the cheap seats) became more valuable.

The upper galleries – the "gods" – were the The upper galleries – the "gods" – were the cheapest.cheapest.

Audiences, especially those in the gods, were Audiences, especially those in the gods, were loud and vocal.loud and vocal.

SceneryScenery

The stage was to present an illusion of The stage was to present an illusion of reality, with many details, and was to be reality, with many details, and was to be historically and geographically accurate.historically and geographically accurate.

Scenery included drops, flats, ground rows Scenery included drops, flats, ground rows (cutaway flats standing free on the stage (cutaway flats standing free on the stage floor).floor).

Carefully and realistically painted.Carefully and realistically painted.

Natural settings.Natural settings.

LightingLighting

Candles or oil lamps and gaslight Candles or oil lamps and gaslight used to better illuminate and capture used to better illuminate and capture attention of audienceattention of audience

Gaslight increased illumination, had Gaslight increased illumination, had better control of intensity, but still had better control of intensity, but still had wavering flames.wavering flames.

Special EffectsSpecial Effects

Many special effects:Many special effects: Flying, trap doorsFlying, trap doors water pump systemswater pump systems moving panoramas to give the illusion of moving panoramas to give the illusion of

travel, travel, treadmills by the late 1800 (allowed for treadmills by the late 1800 (allowed for

horses and chariot races, etc.)horses and chariot races, etc.) volcanic eruptionsvolcanic eruptions firesfires

SignificanceSignificance

While Romanticism was not at all realistic While Romanticism was not at all realistic in its acting, drama, or direction, in set, in its acting, drama, or direction, in set, costume, and lighting it attempted to be as costume, and lighting it attempted to be as realistic as possible.realistic as possible.

Romanticism inadvertently paved the way Romanticism inadvertently paved the way for easier acceptance of Realism.for easier acceptance of Realism.

MelodramaMelodrama

Primary form of theatre during the 19th Primary form of theatre during the 19th centurycentury

Still popular today.Still popular today.

Focused on Focused on RomanticRomantic ExoticExotic supernaturalsupernatural

Characteristics of MelodramaCharacteristics of Melodrama

Comes from "music drama" – music was used to Comes from "music drama" – music was used to increase emotions or to signify charactersincrease emotions or to signify characters Signature Music– Signature Music– SupermanSuperman theme theme

A simplified moral universe; good v. evil in stock A simplified moral universe; good v. evil in stock characterscharacters

Episodic form: the villain poses a threat, the hero Episodic form: the villain poses a threat, the hero or heroine escapes.—always with happy ending.or heroine escapes.—always with happy ending.

Almost never five acts Almost never five acts

Many special effectsMany special effects

Melodramatic FormsMelodramatic Forms

Equestrian dramas: horses, often on treadmills – Equestrian dramas: horses, often on treadmills – forerunners of the modern Western.forerunners of the modern Western. True GritTrue Grit

Canine melodramasCanine melodramas LassieLassie BenjiBenji

Nautical melodramasNautical melodramas interest in the seainterest in the sea The Poseidon AdventureThe Poseidon Adventure

Disaster melodramasDisaster melodramas ArmageddonArmageddon Dante’s PeakDante’s Peak

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Early LifeEarly Life

Poe was born in Boston on January 19, Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809, his parents’ second child.1809, his parents’ second child.

His father deserted the family a year His father deserted the family a year later.later.

In December 1811, his mother died at In December 1811, his mother died at twenty-four, and her husband twenty-four, and her husband disappeared completely.disappeared completely.

Poe was taken in by John Allan, a Poe was taken in by John Allan, a successful and stable Richmond successful and stable Richmond merchant.merchant.

College and West PointCollege and West Point

Poe spent most of 1826 at the Poe spent most of 1826 at the University of West Virginia, doing well in University of West Virginia, doing well in his studies, but running up gambling his studies, but running up gambling debts and drinking.debts and drinking.

He was admitted at West Point in 1830, He was admitted at West Point in 1830, but got himself expelled by missing but got himself expelled by missing classes and roll calls.classes and roll calls.

By 1831, Poe had already published By 1831, Poe had already published three versions of his early poetry.three versions of his early poetry.

Poe and the GothicPoe and the Gothic

Poe did not want to write gothic stories; Poe did not want to write gothic stories; he started his career spoofing the he started his career spoofing the Gothic.Gothic.

He said that he wrote, “Tales of terror, He said that he wrote, “Tales of terror, not of Germany, but of the soul.”not of Germany, but of the soul.”

He transformed tales of terror into He transformed tales of terror into psychological stories; he delved into the psychological stories; he delved into the mysterious recesses of the human mysterious recesses of the human mind.mind.

Elements of Gothic in Poe’s Elements of Gothic in Poe’s FictionFiction

Grim settingGrim setting Landscapes are often reflections of Landscapes are often reflections of

character’s mind.character’s mind. Unusual buildings, extremes of nature, Unusual buildings, extremes of nature,

eccentric works of arteccentric works of art Very few of his stories take place in Very few of his stories take place in

America; most take place in Europe or America; most take place in Europe or Never-never-land.Never-never-land.

Other elements of the GothicOther elements of the GothicHidden evilHidden evil Unspeakable, mysterious crimes, including incest Unspeakable, mysterious crimes, including incest

and parracideand parracide

Obsession with DeathObsession with Death Ghosts, blood, body partsGhosts, blood, body parts

Maniacal LaughterManiacal Laughter

The discovered manuscriptThe discovered manuscript gives responsibility to someone elsegives responsibility to someone else

DeformityDeformity the groteque--people who don’t look right are the groteque--people who don’t look right are

capable of activity beyond the normcapable of activity beyond the norm

An element of Poe’s styleAn element of Poe’s style

Poe uses vocabulary to create setting, Poe uses vocabulary to create setting, for rhetorical effect, rather than for for rhetorical effect, rather than for information.information.

Modern horror films use music to create Modern horror films use music to create atmosphere; Poe used vocabulary.atmosphere; Poe used vocabulary.

Poe described the conflict between two Poe described the conflict between two sides of the intellect.sides of the intellect.

PoePoe