Arts

Quarter 4
Theatrical Forms from Different Art Periods
Rituals and ceremonies were upshots of the myths and stories told, and
theater evolved from them. Theater takes place in a location called theatron, a
“place of seeing”. A lot of people are involved in theater production but, it is the
playwright who makes the plot of the story and establishes the story’s theatrical
form.
Theatrical form refers to the type or genre of the play performed by the
actors on stage. Generally there are four basic theatrical forms: Tragedy, Comedy,
Melodrama and Drama. It started with Tragedy that led to Comedy and together
these two theatrical genres became the foundation upon where the modern theater
genres are formed.
DIFFERENT ART PERIOD
A. Ancient Theater (700 B.C.E – 410 B.C.E.)

Ancient Greek Theater (began around Roman Theater (in the 3rd century
700 B.C). B.C.)
Theatrical Form or genre: Theatrical Form or genre:
1. Tragedy 2. Comedy 3. Satyr 1. Tragedy 2. Comedy
Tragedy - deals with tragic events, unhappy endings, defeat of the main
character, it is the most admired type of play in Greece. There were
only 3 players allowed onstage, a “chorus” (group of up to 15 actors
who sang and dance but did not speak) helps in scene transitions.
Thespis - the earliest recorded actor in a tragedy play, introduced the use of
masks. Often called the “Father of Tragedy”. “Thespian” is a common
English term for a performer.

Comedy: a form of theater that mirrors the society in a humorous way reflecting
wickedness and immorality. It makes people see the impact of their
behavior and change for the better.

Satyr – (Greek theater) combination of tragedy and comedy. A spoof of tragedy

known for its vulgar and indecent amusement. Usually performed
after a set of three tragedies.
(also called tragicomedy, a term coined by Titus Maccius Plautus, a
Roman playwright).

B. Medieval Theater (500 C.E. -1400)

Transition and Early Medieval Theater (Byzantine Empire): Theatrical Forms:

1. Mime, Pantomime scenes, or recitations from tragedies and comedies
2. Liturgical dramas or Religious plays - dramatized versions of particular
biblical events ex. Mystere de Adam or Mystery of Adam
High & Late Medieval Period:
3. “Feast of Fools” festival (where lesser clergy get to ridicule the superiors and routine
church life)
4. Mystery Plays – earliest formally developed plays in Medieval Europe, actors were all
male amateur locals and uses the vernacular in their plays
5. Morality Plays - examples are: “The Castle of Perseverance” and “Everyman”
6. Secular performances - (not religious) ex: “Play of the Greenwood”
by Allan de la Halle
7. Farces - comedy with highly exaggerated and extravagant situations
8. Masques - festive courtly entertainment in the 16th & 17th bc was developed in Italy
 C. Renaissance Theater (1400 – 1600)

1. Emergence of the Commedia dell ‘arte – from Italy. Theater troupe that
performed lively improvisational playlets across Europe for centuries. Actor
centered, requires little scenery and props. Plays come from the “Lazzi” or
stock comedic routines that provide the framework of the story from which the
actors improvise.
2. History plays (English or European history), Tragedy (ex. Revenge plays), Comedy
(with subgenre City comedy), from the older genres were the Pastoral plays,
Morality plays, Tragicomedy, and Masque,
3. The Companies of Players became the foundation of professional players
performing on the Elizabethan stage.
4. William Shakespeare is the most famous playwright during this period.

D. Baroque Theater ((1600 – 1750

Tragedy was the overall preferred genre, but the aristocrats preferred the
lighter tragicomedy. Pierre Corneille, a tragedian produced works that were un-
tragic having happy endings, like his “Le Cid”. For English theater, this was a time
for “restoration comedies” (comedies written during the restoration period).
“Sentimental comedy”, a genre that counters the immoral tone of restoration
comedies – its aim was to be more realistic on the nature of human beings having
tendencies to go astray and return to the right path after overcoming trials. A type
of comedy that ends in tears rather than laughter as the main character triumphs
over trials.
Technological development made way for broadways and commercial plays
as ropes and pulleys were utilized to support special effects and scene changes
within seconds. Another important product of this period was the Opera.

E. Neoclassical Theater (1800 – 1900)

Theater was dominated by Neoclassicism (art forms inspired by the

classics). Emphasis was on the exact adherence to the classical unities that has
largely contributed to proper decorum (audience etiquette) when watching a play.
This period was characterized by lavish and complex scenery, costumes, large
gestures and melodrama. Politically satirical comedies outshined the sexual farces
of the Restoration.
In Germany, historic accuracy in costumes and settings was the trend.
Theater architecture was greatly improved and German Romanticism theatrical
form was introduced.
The emergence of “Theater Movements” i.e. Realism (depicts life as it is
naturally) and non-realism - Symbolism (expressing the intangible or unseen
internal feelings by means of visible or sensuous representations) and forerunner
of Expressionism. (Express emotion and meaning rather than reality). Naturalism
(naturalistic) which was influenced by Darwin’s theory of Evolution founded on the
belief that one’s character is determined by its heredity and environment.
 F. Romantic Theater (1800 – 2000)

Melodrama and Operas were the most popular theatrical forms.

There was an abundance of Experimental theater (also known as avant-

garde theater), a rejection of the conventional theater styles, the experimental
theater changes the theme, language even the relationship of the actors to the
audience. Through the breaking of the “fourth wall” where the actors address
dialogues (questions) to the audience.
Hollywood came out and endangered American theater. But theater was
not affected instead it continued to be known and noticed worldwide

ACTIVITY NO. 1 ARTS

Direction: Answer the following in your notebook.

1. Earliest theater forms were rituals and festivals, all an upshot of the following:
a. gods b. myths
c. music d. composers

2. When we talk about Ancient period we are actually talking about these
great cities.
a. Rome & Athens b. Greece & Athens
c. Athens & Israel d. Rome & Italy

3. Armand used to be joyful, but this COVID 19 had been unforgiving. The time he
spent at home thinking about his future made him sad. He finally succumbed to
depression. His family misunderstood him as only having tantrums. Being
misunderstood and unable to control his feelings, Armand committed the grave
mistake of killing his mother. The other members of the family were very sad
not only for the death of the mother but also for Armand who now have to spend
his life living in prison. How would you classify this story’s genre?
a. morality play b. satyr
c. tragedy d. mystery play

4. “There are only two sides of a coin in the same way that there are only two
kinds of color either black or white which sometimes mean either you are good or
bad. During what period in history was classical theater viewed diabolical that
eventually led to its closure?
a. Ancient b. Medieval
c. Renaissance d. none of the above

5. In Greek theater, performers were limited to only 3 persons playing different

roles, the transition between scenes and the storyline itself is taken cared of
by one of the following
a. the narrator b. the guest
c. the host d. the chorus

6. Tragedy goes back to ancient times where it was the most preferred sort of play.
The first performer in a tragedy plays who was later on considered the Father of
tragedy was.
a. Dionysus b. Thespis
c. Plautus d. Magnus
7. Medieval period began with the closure of classical theater by the church for
it was seen as of the devil. What happened to the religious plays in many
countries at the end of the period?
a. It was banned b. it multiplied
c. it grew more d. none of the above

8. True or False. In Commedia dell’arte the players wrote their own plays and
build their own characters from scratch.

9. Satyr was often performed after three tragedies. What could be the reason
for this?
a. It is the most important genre
b. It contains the name of the playwright
c. It provides a breather from the preceding unhappy endings
d. It is always requested

10. Which of the following is a common English term for a performer?

a. Actor b. Playwright c. Shakespearian d. Thespian