DRAM 1310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Adolphe Appia, English Renaissance Theatre, Steele Mackaye
Document Summary
Greek theatre, elizabethan theatre, chinse theatre used neutral playing space defined through character action, language or minimal use of properties. Roman and medieval theatre showed scenic effect. Court theatre of renaissance and baroque periods used stage design with great enthusiasm and ingenuity. Leonardo da vinci contributed their skills to the theatre. Film studios spend thousands of money on technology. Renaissance is similar to this back in the day. Scenery lavishly painted with palatial interiors or mythical lands and special effects. Glories a scenic device used in the italian court theatre to fly large groups of characters such as angels. Introduction of scenic realism was continuation of renaissance ideal of integrated scenic background and environment for drama. Steele mackaye and david belasco (american directors and designers) - realism turned into spectacle of its own, rivers running across stage and fifteen minute sunsets. Actors and language they speak to express essence of the world of the play.
