HNRS 291 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Tennessee Williams, Anton Chekhov, Moscow Art Theatre
Document Summary
Chorus on a recessed stage called orchestra. Actors on circular stage with altar to dionysus. Six-day festival, three days dedicated to theatre. One trilogy-tragedy each day, followed by a satyr (satire) play to lighten mood. Women were only let in if seats were still empty after the men and the slaves were seated. Plautus of rome is known as the first black playwright. This assumption is made based off his former status as a slave. Terrence for perfecting latin, hence why his works (comedies) are still performed. While women became citizens during the middle ages, the crusades led to the recovery of greco-roman texts. Aristotle"s assertion that women belonged in the kitchen and the bedroom led to women losing significance again with the renaissance. Rome built theatres everywhere they went and/or conquered, and many of these old ruins are still used for theatre. Theatre fell with the dark ages, but travelling theatre became prevalent.
