INTRO TO GREEK THEATER

PICTURE THIS…

Imagine a film or a television program wherein men play the roles of women, actors chant lyrical passages in unison, and performers recite lines while their faces are completely concealed from viewers.

No, this is not the latest season of The Bachelor or Survivor: The Australian Outback

It IS, however….

GREEK THEATER

ORIGIN OF TRAGEDY

Dionysus

the god of wine and fertility. A suffering god Died each winter;

reborn each spring

ORIGIN OF TRAGEDY

“City of Dionysia” In the Fifth century B.C. an annual religious

festival is held each spring to honor of Dionysus

Four-day celebration with dancing around a public altar, singing of hymns, playing of music, and competition for prizes (goats or bulls)

ORIGIN OF TRAGEDY

“City of Dionysia” At the festival hymns

were sung by a Chorus of fifty men while dancing around the altar

They competed for the prize of a goat (thought to be sacred to Dionysus

Tragedy means goat-song in Greek

ORIGIN OF TRAGEDY

Thespis– “Father of Drama” (6th Century B.C.)

Athenian—won a prize in 534 B.C.

Converted the choral lyrics into songs that told the story of a famous hero

First introduced a masked actor who would dialogue with the leader of the Chorus while playing that hero or god

ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY

Aeschylus—(535-426 B.C.) Introduced the

second actor Dialogue becomes

more important :: chorus becomes less important

Trilogies: three plays based on a single theme or story

ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY

Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) Athenian known for musical,

poetic, political, and dramatic talents

Introduced the third actor Fixed the Chorus at fifteen men Added painted scenery Wrote more than 120 tragedies,

but only seven have survived Best record for wins at the

festival-24 1st prizes and seven 2nd prizes in 31 competitions!

ORIGINS OF TRAGEDY

Sophocles Three “Theban” plays

Tragedies about King Oedipus of Thebes Antigone-442 B.C. (Third part of story) Oedipus Rex- 430 B.C. (First part of story) Oedipus at Colonus-401 B.C. (Middle part)

STRUCTURE OF THE THEATER

A) Theatron (seating) D) Skene (dressing room)B) Orchestra (stage) E) Proskenion (backdrop)C) Themele (altar) F1) Parados-Anistrophe

F2) Parados-Strophe

STRUCTURE OF THE THEATER

COSTUMES AND MASKS

Long flowing robes—colored symbolically

High boots with raised soles (platforms) Larger than life masks—made of linen,

wood cork Identified age, gender, and emotion Exaggerated features—large eyes, open

mouth

COSTUMES AND MASKS

CHORUS - Music and Dance

Music and dance had special meaning Chorus moved in unison from left to

right (antistrophe) and back again from right to left (strophe)

All motions and gestures were in unison to help maintain and create rhythm

CHORUS-Function

Helped set the mood and express theme

Added beauty to the production Helped divide action into episodes Gave background information Questions, advises, expresses opinions

—usually through the Chorus leader (Choragos)

CONVENTIONS OF GREEK THEATER

Messenger Tells of news

happening away from the scene

Reports acts of violence not allowed to be seen

CONVENTIONS OF GREEK THEATER

Continuous presentation of the chorus

No intermissions No lighting; no

curtains