AGE OF STYLEActor’s Studio - Tuesday March 25, 2013

Shawnee Mission West High School

A PERIOD OF MANY NAMES!

Age of Style Comedy of Manners Restoration Comedy

BACKGROUND

Comedy of manners is concerned with the social manners and attitudes of groups or classes of people who define themselves as superior, or at least different, by the following of very particular life styles based upon strict codes of behavior and taste.

BACKGROUND

Raised in the French court

Brought back French code of manners

Idea of Theatre as court entertainment

Theatre geared towards aristocrats $$ Their life on stage

Restoration of Charles II

Charles’ Sweet Mustache

THE GREAT JUXTAPOSITION

Must be wealthy but don’t look like you work!

Handkerchief – careless, but not too precise

Leave bottom button undone

Code must be learned but must not LOOK learned

SOCIAL MORES AND ATTITUDES

Hobbesian view of life the human was a creature

of animal passions and instincts

the amoral pursuit of pleasure was the true aim of existence

the person who could laugh at life most wittily was the winner of life’s ephemeral and somewhat cynical stakes.

Thus, carnal pleasure was highly prized, sexual chase was the great sport of the day.

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THEATRE!! Space and Social Settings

Illusionistic Raked stage Perspective painting Chariot and Pole System Space, elegance,

simplicity

RAKED STAGE

CHARIOT-AND-POLE SYSTEM

COSTUMES

simply everyday clothing to the society of the time

silks and lace and frills and curls female bosom, male leg exposedCleanliness not exactly a virtue

Powdered makeup Covered ravages caused by small pox

COSTUMES

Long coat w/ wide cuffs Hankie Embroidered coat Shirt with laces and

ribbons Breeches to the knees Shaved head, long wig Snuff box

MENBe a Perfect Peacock, yet draw no attention!

COSTUMES

Bell-shaped, full-skirted gown

Bodice cut low Corset Hair adorned with

hats, ribbons and scarves

Fans

WOMEN FEMALE ACTORS YAY

SOCIAL GROUPS

Were defined by attitude, manners and costumes

Think of social groups in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, today

Playwrights made characters as close to real life as possible

Actor’s task was not to make character unusual or different

THE FOP

Foolish Idle, affected,

fashionable and ridiculous

Overly concerned with appearance

Also called “coxcomb, ninny or macaroni”

PERFORMANCE DEMANDS

VERBAL FACILITY Witty language Particular manner of speech Rhythms, structure, word choice

Breathless Quickfire Blunt and direct

PERFORMANCE DEMANDS

COMIC TIMING Setting up a rhythm to help audience laugh at

the right moment. Builds tension, audience feels need of release,

knows a laugh is coming

VERBAL FENCING “Fencing with the tongue” like a Tennis match EXAMPLE – The Importance of Being Earnest

JACK: When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring.

ALGERNON: And who are the people you amuse? JACK (airily): Oh, neighbours, neighbours ALGERNON: Got nice neighbors in your part of

Shropshire? JACK: Perfectly horrid! Never speak to one of them. ALGERNON: How immensely you must amuse them!

UNIT DEADLINES

Character History DUE THURSDAY, MARCH 28

Monologue Tactics DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 29

First Line DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 29

Half Memorization DUE MONDAY, APR. 1

Final Performance DUE THURS, APR. 4 or FRI, APR. 5