Greek Theater and Classical Plays

Greek Theater

• Western classical plays originated in 5th century B.C.E. Greece, emerging from Dionysian rituals in amphitheaters.
• Greek drama has two main forms: Tragedy and Comedy.
• Tragedy depicts the protagonist's fall, often inspired by mythology, with violent acts not shown on stage and death indicated by offstage sounds.
• Aristotle defined key elements of Greek drama:
  • Hubris: The protagonist's arrogance leading to defiance of gods or morals, causing tragedy.
  • Hamartia: The protagonist's misjudgment leading to their downfall.
  • Anagnorisis: The climax where the protagonist realizes their misjudgment.
  • Peripeteia: The protagonist's downfall.
  • Catharsis: The audience's emotional purification, feeling pity and fear.

Comedy

• Comedy aims to amuse by ridiculing characters, customs, and institutions.
• Originating from fertility rites, it uses farce, fantasy, parody, and satyr, ending with a lyrical celebration of unity.
• A comedic drama follows a structured format:
  • Parodos: The chorus of 24 performers sings and dances, wearing costumes representing various characters.
  • Agon: A debate between main characters with outlandish plot elements and fast-changing, possibly improvised, scenes.
  • Parabasis: The chorus speaks for the poet, delivering a message to the audience.
  • Exodos: The finale, typically performed with another song and dance routine.

Renaissance Play

• Theatrical art flourished during the Renaissance, particularly in England.
• Famous playwrights emerged, including William Shakespeare, considered one of the greatest of all time.

Shakespearean Plays

• History Play: Depicts the lives of English kings, with examples including Richard III and Henry V.
• Tragedy: Focuses on state affairs, social corruption, life and death, free will and fate, violent revenge, and redemption.
• Examples of tragedies include Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, and Othello.
• Comedy: Features plots with happy endings, with examples including Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, and The Tempest.
• City comedy, a subgenre, is set in London, making it familiar to audiences.

Romantic Period

• Opera originated in Florence, Italy, mirroring Greek drama by combining text (libretto) and musical score.
• Operas heavily rely on sound, with lead singers performing arias accompanied by instruments and backed by a chorus.
• Georges Bizet's French opera Carmen, based on Prosper Marimee's novel, debuted in Paris in 1875.
• Carmen, a gypsy involved in a tragic love triangle, stirred controversy but became immensely popular.
• Its iconic arias, the Habanera and the Toreador Song, cement its place as one of the most performed operas today.