Elizabethan Theater
Drama changed literature and theater into what it is today. I. History
of
Elizabethan Theater a. forming of theater 1. medieval church 2. mystery
and
morality b. actors 1. rogues and thieves 2. acting guilds II. Influences
and
people a. commanding actors 1. Shakespeare 2. Burbage b. other 1. wars of
the
roses (other historical influences) 2. laws restricting theater III.
The
theaters a. prices 1. seating 2. stage b. the theater and the globe 1.
locations
and characteristics 2. Burbage and other accomplishment Elizabethan
Drama During
the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England underwent a dramatic
change in
priorities. The importance of art and literature became highly
prevalent. The
impact of the Elizabethan drama and style still influences
culture. It changed
altered it into what it modern literature and theater is
today. The Elizabethan
Age began during the last twenty years of
Elizabeth I’s reign (Lace, 71).
Elizabeth loved the arts and England had
increased in wealth and internal peace
(Lace, 71). Elizabethan drama placed
its roots in the medieval church (Lace,
71). Since all services were held
in Latin, a language common people did not
speak, priests acted out the
stories of the bible to teach (Lace, 71). Beginning
in church behind the
alter, plays grew more popular as more people wanted to see
them (Lace, 71).
When there were not enough priests to fill the roles, commoners
were given
parts. Eventually, the common people took over the plays and the
church
became less involved (Lace, 72). The biblical plays transformed into
mystery
and morality plays. Morality plays were more serious and meant to
teach
people the difference between right and wrong (Lace, 78). Mystery
plays, while
still teaching morals, were the more entertaining plays. Both
were highly
religious. The actors of the time led an ambiguous life. In the
first half of
the 16th century they were seen as little better than thieves;
some, in fact,
were thieves (Lace, 73). While some actors were performing
others would go
through the crowds and pick pocket (Lace, 74). Touring
companies were small,
usually less than ten people (Lace, 74). Actors
traveled by wagon and slept in
or under them (Lace, 74). Almost no women were
actors, women’s parts were
played by younger boys (Lace, 74). Elizabethan
theater was strongly influenced
by individuals and events - It also was an
influence on the people themselves.
Although there were many outstanding
actors and playwrights, only a few are
acknowledged for their affect in
molding early theater. When Christopher Marlowe,
the most famous playwright
in his time (Lace, 79), died, William Shakespeare was
his successor.
Shakespeare decided drama was to be his career after seeing the
Queen’s
Players during a visit to his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon in 1587
(Lace,
79). By the time of Marlowe’s death, Shakespeare was already well known
for
his three part "Henry VI" in 1592 (Lace, 79). His plays "Love’s
Labour’s
Lost" and "Romeo and Juliet", both in 1594, were performed and
he became the
most outstanding playwright of his time (Lace, 79). Before
Elizabeth’s
reign was over, "Richard II", "Julius Caesar", "Henry
V", and "Hamlet"
had been performed (Lace, 79). James Burbage was the
second most influential
actor of the Elizabethan period, but not only for his
acting talent. Burbage
built the first ever public playhouse in England, opening
in 1576 (Unknown,
218). Burbage financed the building of "The Theater"
alone, a well off man
but was still considered a rogue. Actors were not the only
influence on
theater. When Mary Tudor decided the throne was rightfully hers,
the War of
the Roses ensued (Lace, 73). Because of the War of the Roses, many
nobles,
that employed actors, were killed (Lace, 73). This forced actors to
form
their own troupes (Lace, 73). In 1572, parliament passed the Poor Laws,
making
it a criminal offense to be a vagabond (Lace, 75). This reduced the
number of
acting companies and required them to be licensed by the government
(Lace, 75).
Companies already sponsored by nobles were given licenses
(Lace, 75). This made
gaining legal status an important step for the acting
profession (Lace, 75).
Informal protection was now backed up by the law,
this was useful to the
increasing hostility of city officials towards plays
and actors (Lace, 75). The
cornerstone of Elizabethan Drama were, in fact,
the theater houses themselves.
At "The Theater" the price of admission
was a penny, this entitled one to
stand on the ground around the stage (Lace,
77). The poorest and most boisterous
were looked down upon by the more well
off, who called them groundlings (Lace,
77). The next higher were low
galleries that cost another penny, and prices go
up the higher you go (Lace,
77). The highest gallery were private rooms, but not
the most expensive
(Lace, 77). The most expensive were on the stage itself.
These people
often disturbed the performance by talking, playing cards, or
showing off new
clothing (Lace, 77). The theaters were built much like the court
yards the
actors were used to (Lace, 76). The building was circular and the
stage
extended out so that the audience almost surrounded it (Lace, 76).
Scenery
was limited but special effects were now possible (Lace, 76). Actors
could pop
up through trap doors or be lowered from above from a room known as
"heaven"
(Lace, 76). At the rear of the stage there were two doors used for
both scenery
and actors (Lace, 76). Backstage were rooms for storage, "tiring
rooms"
(where actors got attired, dressed) and the green room where actors
waited for
their cues to go onstage (Lace, 76). "The Theatre" was an
immediate success
with both upper and middle classes (Lace, 77). Middle-class
merchants, mostly
puritans, disliked plays but apprentices often snuck away
from work to watch
them (Lace, 77). The audience was mostly male. Going to a
public play, even if
escorted, was considered not respectable for women
(Lace, 77). Only lowest class
women and the greatest nobles enjoyed plays by
themselves (Lace, 77). Upper
class women and the greatest nobles enjoyed
plays, but the actors came and
performed in private halls (Lace, 77). The
Globe was the most famous of all the
Elizabethan theaters (Lace, 77). In
1594, Burbage’s lease had run out on
"The Theatre" and the landlord
wanted to raise rent (Lace, 77). They argued
for years. Finally Burbage tore
down "The Theatre" and transported the
lumber across the Thames to Southwark
and built The Globe (Lace, 77). The new
theater was occupied by the newly
formed Lord Chamberlain’s Players, founded
by Elizabeth’s cousin, Lord Hudson
(Lace, 77). This most famous troupe
included Shakespeare and James Burbage’s
son Richard, considered the best
actor of the time (Lace, 77). Opened to the
public in 1599 with Shakespeare’s
"Henry V" (Lace, 78). Some historians
believe Shakespeare played the part of
chorus saying: "But pardon gentles
all, The flat arraised spirits that hath
dared On this unworthy scaffold to
bring forth So great an object can this
cockpit hold The vastly [vast] field
of France? Or may we cram With in this
wooden O the very casques [helmets]
That did affright the air at [the Battle of]
Agincourt" (Lace, 78). All
the minor details and trifle ways that shaped the
style of the Elizabethan
era are the same that changes the style of modern
times. Unknown to the
innovators of their time, their contributions to the
theater they lived for
are still recognized and appreciated. Had it not been for
these noble few
literature and theater would not quite be the art form it
is
today.
Bibliography
Lace, William W. Elizabethan England.
San Diego, Ca. Lucent Books, 1995.
Boas, Fredrick S. An Introduction to
Tudor Drama. Oxford, Eng. Clarendon Press,
1977. "The English Theater."
Cultural Atlas of the Renaissance, p218. Arnold
Edward., ed Prentive Hall
Literature. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: PrenticeHall,
1989. Internet.
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/costumes.html.