Emotions Unleashed: The Evolution of Sentimentalism, Melodrama, and Romanticism in the 18th and 19th Century Theatre

1. 18th AND 19thCENTURY THEATRE:Sentimentalism,Romanticismand Melodrama

2. Many people objected to the disreputable antics of the Restoration plays • They disliked: crudeness, sexual comment and innuendo, lack of morals • Partly as a reaction, new types of plays were written and performed • These new plays were Sentimental dramas, aimed at being the opposite of the bawdy Restoration plays

3. Sentimentalism • Sentimentalism relates to feelings or emotions • Sentimental drama aimed at touching the feelings of the audience deeply • Successful sentimental plays made audience members sympathise, feel sorry for characters in the play, and created emotional reactions • Audience members might cry or feel worried and anxious

4. Plots and acting aimed at invoking sympathy • Stories usually had happy endings • Plots could involve comedy or tragedy • There were often many terrible events before the happy, or tragic ending • Good people were always rewarded • The bad were left dead or despairing

5. Sentimental plays created a magical world with incredible twists of fate • However much the good characters suffered they were rewarded in the end, and lived happily ever after • The stories were not believable • But they were entertaining and escapist

6. The plays worked on the audience members’ emotions • The theatre gave people the opportunity to express their emotions freely in a safe and accepting environment • Sentimental plays were very popular especially with middle class people

7. Playwrights: Samuel Foote

8. Samuel Foote in “The Devil has Two Sticks”

9. The Playwrights: Richard Cumberland

10. Some of Cumberland’s Plays • Favourite theme: virtue in distress or danger • The Fashionable Lover • The Brothers • The West-Indian • He wrote more than 35 plays, mostly sentimentalist in style.

11. Playwrights: Richard Sheridan

12. “The Rivals” by Sheridan

16. Sheridan is the most famous of the sentimentalist playwrights.Many of his plays are still performed today.

17. Melodrama • By 1800, Sentimentalism gave way to Melodrama • Melodramas were still sentimental but they developed a distinct style of their own • Melodramas used the same plots as Sentimental plays • They were filled with suspense

18. Melodramas were very emotional • Again good characters were rewarded and the bad were punished

20. Stagecraft • Special FX • Big, colourful scenes • Excited the audiences as they were new and unusual • Music: songs, musical background • Orchestra was essential in Melodrama

21. Action on stage was gripping and exciting • Large audiences of middle class and lower class • Audiences were often rough and loud, interrupting during the play

22. Characteristics of Melodramas • Musical score • Sound FX • Spectacular effects and scenery • An evil villain • An innocent, good, victim heroine • The good guy/hero

23. The Villain and Heroine

24. More Characteristics • A narrator • Disguises • Deception • Humour • Scenes that build up suspense • Last minute rescues

25. Melodramas were so popular they were churned out in large numbers • Few were considered to be high quality • Audiences wanted spectacle and action • ‘Incredible’ feats were performed on stage, including erupting volcanoes and horse races! (These were possible due to the invention of electrical motors) • Scenery could be painted on cloth and electronically moved behind the actors to suggest movement

26. The Stories • Popular stories and novels were adapted for the stage • These included such stories as: • Count of Monte Cristo • Uncle Tom’s Cabin • The works of Charles Dickens

28. Count of Monte Cristo

29. Great Expectations

30. Uncle Tom’s Cabin

31. Lighting • Lighting played a major role in the success of melodrama • The invention of gas allowed for much more efficent and safer lighting • Candles and oil lighting were dangerous and now a thing of the past • Lighting could now be easily controlled • Lighting could be dimmed and brightened for special FX

32. Romanticism • Romantic theatre started in Germany • The playwright Goethe combined Greek Tragedy with Shakespearean theatre

33. Johann Wolfgang Goethe

34. Most Famous Plays • “Faust” • Tale of the bored and rebellious academic who sells his soul to the devil in return for a life of extreme human experience. • “Stella” • Love and the Countess causing two suicides as lovers are spurned

35. Faust

36. “Stella” • Love and the Countess causing two suicides as lovers are spurned

37. A Modern Version of Goethe’s “Stella”

38. Romantic theatre had nothing to do with love and romance in particular • It was a description for a movement, or style of art, music or drama • Romantics lived deeply • They were influenced by ancient classics • They often combined all the arts

39. Romantic artists would paint popular poems • Musicians would write a musical score based a play • Romantics valued: • Emotions • Ideals • Freedom They emphasised the role of the arts to inspire people

40. “The Lady of Shallot”poem by Wordsworthpainting by Waterhouse

41. Romantic poets were adored • Wordsworth • Byron • Shelley • Keats • Tennyson They lived with heart and passion. The Romantics valued imagination and spirituality

42. Wordsworth

43. Byron

44. Shelley

45. Mary Shelley, his wife • Author of “Frankenstein”

46. Keats

47. Tennyson

48. Acting in romantic plays was: poetic, flowing, very emotional and dramatic • Today’s audiences would probably find Sentimental, Melodramatic and Romantic plays too exaggerated and emotional to take seriously