20TH CENTURY THEATRETHEATRE HISTORY

THE NEW CENTURY

Absurdism: states that the efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning in the universe will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd), because no such meaning exists, at least in relation to the individual.

Epic Theatre-wanted to break the idea of theatrical illusion- Impressionism-reminds the audience that human

dramas are but brief episodes on a vast stage which will survive us all.

Regional Theatre-not just Broadway, encourages new talent; famous regional theatre=Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis

STAGE TECHNOLOGY Revolutionized Theatre design

Adolph Appia- Switzerland Gordon Craig- English

-used color and line to create mood -used revolving stages -used projected scenery -amazing light effects

EUROPEAN THEATRE Germany: - Bertholt Brecht: -epic theatre -wanted audiences to think more critically -promoted social reform in plays -addressed poverty, war, and social struggle -wanted to break the idea of theatrical illusion- 1. inserted narration and songs between scenes 2. made no effort to hide lighting from audience and used sparse props and set 3. alienate audience-actors should not become the character completely 4. influenced by Asian theatreFamous Plays: The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Mother Courage

EUROPEAN THEATRE France- Jean Giraudoux Madwoman of Chaillot- theatre of absurd -groups of poor people of the streets with a self-

appointed queen of the beggars Post- WWII: Absurdist movement grows among playwrights - group known as “angry young men” Avante-garde theatre: ALL LIFE IS MEANINGLESS became their theme Actors speak and act with no regard for rules of

theatre

EUROPEAN THEATRE Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco theatre of the absurd -loneliness and isolation; alienation -rejected traditional plots and characters -comic plays about the meaninglessness of

life -life ruled by chancePlays: Rhinoceros; The Chairs; Waiting for

Godot

AMERICAN THEATRE Major influence: Professor George Baker; Harvard:Students:Eugene O'Neill (1888 –1953) was an American playwright, and Nobel

laureate in Literature. His plays are among the first to introduce into American drama the techniques of realism. Dealt with psychological issues.

Plays- Morning Becomes Electra; Long Days Journey Into NightLillian Hellman: Plays- The Little Foxes; The Children’s HourStanley McCandless (1897-1967) is considered to be the father of

modern lighting design. He paved the way for future lighting designers by playing a role in all aspects of theatrical lighting.

Thomas Clayton Wolfe (1900 –1938) was a major American novelist and playwright of the early 20th century.

Plays: Look Homeward Angel

AMERICAN THEATRE GREAT PLAYWRIGHTS: Thorton Wilder Tennessee Williams Arthur Miller Neil Simon Lorraine Hansberry

THORTON WILDER OUR TOWN -American life in a small town in the early

20th Century -minimal set - the eternal patterns of human existence;

life and death

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS The Glass Menagerie; A Streetcar

Named Desire

-Southern settings and characters -neurotic characters -universal truths about people

ARTHUR MILLER The Crucible; Death of a Salesman; All

My Sons

- the dilemma of American families- the tragedies of common people- how society affects the individual

NEIL SIMON The Odd Couple; The Last of the Red Hot

Lovers; Brighton Beach Memoirs

- comic genius combined with realism and serious themes

LORRAINE HANSBERRY A Raisin in the Sun-The story is based

upon a black family's experiences in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as the first play with a black director (Lloyd Richards) on Broadway

THEATRE TODAY Theatre continues to grow across the country. Theatre continues to change and experiment. Theatre continues to revisit former styles and

eras of theatre from Ancient Greece to more recent styles.

Theatre will always be a reflection of the human experience.