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Victorian Theatre and Popular Entertainment

Victorian Theatre and Popular Entertainment. Chase Hawkins Nick Mendel. Atmosphere of Theatres. Social classes were divided in theatres Stalls, where the upper middle class sat Balcony/gallery, where the lower class and servants sat Box, where the higher class and aristocrats sat

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Victorian Theatre and Popular Entertainment

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  1. Victorian Theatre and Popular Entertainment Chase Hawkins Nick Mendel

  2. Atmosphere of Theatres • Social classes were divided in theatres • Stalls, where the upper middle class sat • Balcony/gallery, where the lower class and servants sat • Box, where the higher class and aristocrats sat • Some theatres had separate entrances for different social classes • All social classes got very dress up • High number of middle and lower class people went to plays due to better transportation • Theatres were very hot and strong smelling from the amount of people • Theatres could get very rowdy due to the high attendance of the lower and middle class • There was some throwing of food in the lower quality theatres • The audience got very involved with the shows

  3. Appearance of Theatre • Large open buildings, several stories tall • Stage was in front • Pit, at floor level in front of stage, orchestra seats • Stalls, behind the pit at floor level • Balcony/gallery, high seats in back of theatre, could be multiple levels • Box, seats on walls of theatre overlooking the stage • Benches had backs to them • Walls and ceilings were very decorative • Some theatres held up to 4,000 spectators • Seats were placed very close to each other • Candles and oil lamps were used until electricity became popular

  4. TYPES OF SHOWS • Melodrama: dramatic work that put characters in danger, hero usually in every scene, had normal dialogue and singing • Burlesque: a form of parody in which a well known play or opera is turned into a comic show • Farce: a comical dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay, typically includes improbable situations • Pantomimes: type of musical comedy designed for families • Popular shows: Macbeth, The Importance of Being Earnest, Pygmalion • Other types of shows • Comedies • Operas • Shakespeare drama • Classic English Drama • Cup and Saucer drama

  5. Well-Known Theatres • Drury Lane: West End area of London, England, seated about 3,600 • Britannia: Hoxton, London, England, seated about 3,900 • Pavilion- Glasgow, Scotland, seated about 3,500 • Standard- East end of London, England, seated about 3,400 • Victoria- London, England, seated about 3,000

  6. Oscar Wilde • Born October 16, 1854 Dublin, Ireland • Portora Royal School • Trinity College (Dublin) • Magdalen College (Oxford) • Married Constance Lloyd • Sons Cyril and Vyvyan • Lady’s World Magazine

  7. Wilde (cont’d) • Poems 1881 • The Happy Prince and Other Tales 1888 • Intentions 1891 • The Picture of Dorian Gray 1891 • Plays • Lady Windermere’s Fan 1892 • A Woman of No Importance 1893 • An Ideal Husband 1895 • The Importance of Being Earnest 1895

  8. George Bernard Shaw • Born in 1856 in Dublin • Irregular education • Moved to London 1876 • Music and theatre critic • Member of Fabian Society • Wrote literary pamphlets • Begins literary career

  9. Shaw (cont’d) • The Quintessence of Ibenism1891 (novel) • Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant 1898 • Widower’s Houses and Mrs. Warren’s Profession (social hypocrisy) • Arms and the Man and The Man of Destiny (more lenient criticism) • Turns stage into forum of ideas • Caesar and Cleopatra 1901, Androcles and the Lion 1912 (allusions), Major Barbara 1905

  10. “Gilbert and Sullivan” • William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan • Well-known musical comedies • Thespis 1871 first production

  11. William Gilbert • Born in London November 18, 1836 • Parents separated in 1876 • Great Ealing School • King’s College, London • Married Lucy Agnes Turner August 6 1867 • Uncle Baby 1863 • Hush-a-Bye Baby 1866 • Trial by Jury 1875 • Adaptation of Great Expectations

  12. Arthur Sullivan • Born in London May 13, 1842 • English composer • 23 operas • 13 major orchestral works • 8 choral works • 2 ballets • Several plays and hymns • “Onward Christian Soldiers” 1871 • “The Lost Chord” 1877 (bedside)

  13. Other Means of Entertainment • Visual Arts • Art used as entertainment • Depicts scenes of past, present, future, etc. • Music • Concerts • Composers—plays, concerts, dances; teach, write, publish, etc. • Technology • Printing—music/play posters • Railways—leads to spread of pianos in middle class

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