CLST 312 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Sarsina, Fabula Palliata, Livius Andronicus
22 Nov 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
A crane used in theatre to lift actors above main stage to stimulate flight, or signify a higher positioned character. Used in tragedy to demonstrate elevation of gods above actors and audience. Skene had a flat wooden roof that provided a flat acting space. Skene and mechane worked together to create more dynamic staging. More practical way to depict the gods in productions. Often used in tragedies and comedies as well. Used in a comedy to parody the conventions of the tragedies. Debates on who first used it -- euripides used it the most often though. Actor would mount crane from behind the skene outside of audience view. Crane mechanism lifts actors above building and over a wall to represent flight. Deposited on the skene roof to provide a stable place to deliver the lines. Deliver lines also from the mechane, but skene was used more frequently for safety reasons.
