Middle Class and Sentimental English Theatre

Middle Class and Sentimental English Theatre

1702 William III* dies and parliament invites Anne* (James*'s other Protestant daughter) 1665-1714, who's been married to a Prince of Denmark but she doesn't share the throne with him. She also has no children and tends to let other people guide her. The first of these English guides are the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.

The first daily newspaper, the Daily Courant, is issued in London. In Denmark serfdom is abolished. Under William and Mary* there had been a gradual decline in the court's interest in theatre.

Now Anne* has come to the throne, this decline reaches an all time low and theatre is forced to look to the rising merchant class for new audiences. The opening curtain time moves Now Anne* has come to the throne, this decline reaches an all time low and theatre is forced to look to the rising merchant class for new audiences. The opening curtain time moves

1702 - We come to the beginning of the English pantomime* as John Weaver* organizes dances into a connected story. This seems to be a descendant and adaptation of the old court masques.* These are presented in the public theatres as afterpieces to regular plays. Much of this kind of theatrical activity is designed to sidestep the licensing laws. But it also is devised as a means of pleasing the new, lower class audiences. Although John Weaver* is beginning this process, it will take a few years and the efforts of another man to get it up and running.

Peter the Great* (reigns 1682-1725) is trying to westernize Russia and this year he imports a Polish theatre troupe, but it doesn't prosper.

1703 - Back across the Atlantic in the New World, the English actor Anthony Aston* arrives in America. He plays just enough performances in Charleston and New York to pay for his passage back to England. Culture is slowly trickling in.

1704 In America the first newspaper to survive, the weekly "Boston News-Letter," is issued. 1705 - In London this year, Betterton* moves his company, now under the management of

Congreve*, from Lincoln's Inn Fields* to a new theatre in the Haymarket named Queen's Theatre*. The owner of Lincoln's Inn Fields* Theatre, Rich*, tears it down and puts up a new building which won't open for a while.

A British vogue for Italian opera begins about now. 1706 - Farquhar* comes out with another play, The Recruiting Officer*. This is followed in

1707 with his The Beaux' Stratagem*. Both of these will become perennial favorites. In Germany, school drama in the Jesuit* schools reaches its peak with some 769 schools,

universities and seminaries in France, Germany and Austria. The Jesuits are writing many important works on theatre practice, but, because they are trying to get the monopoly on education and are deep in political intrigues, they are beginning to decline and be suppressed.

1707 - In Germany the traditional clowns have coalesced into a national (even though there isn't any "nation") clown called Hanswurst*. This character combines some of the attributes of the Italian Commedia del'Arte*'s zanni* with the medieval fool and various English clowns [from Shakespeare's colleague Will Kempe*, through the English comedians' German- speaking clowns, John Spencer*'s Hans Stockfisch* and Robert Reynold*'s Pickelhering*.]

Hanswurst* is a jolly, beer-drinking peasant with a Bavarian accent. His costume becomes a green pointed hat, red jacket, long yellow pants and a white neck ruff. He is given his distinctive traits by the German actor, Joseph Anton Stranitsky* (1676-1726) who works mainly in Vienna. He helps establish a vigorous tradition of improvised comedy. The popularity of this form sets back the development of written drama in German.

1707 - In England, the new Queen's Theatre* doesn't work well for plays and it is now devoted entirely to the production of opera.

1707 Queen Anne*, of England, finally gets a workable Act of Union with Scotland (the old Cromwellian one failed) and the island is now officially one country. Even more momentous events are transpiring out in the English countryside. England is running short of wood, what with all their ship building and turning wood into charcoal for making high quality metal. A Quaker metal worker turns from using charcoal to using coke (coal partially burned to get the impurities out). When, later this year, one of his workers, a John Thomas,* comes up with a better coke, the metal-making business shifts into high gear. Another ironmonger, Thomas Newcomen* develops a pumping engine to reduce flooding in the mines and there is now (in coke) unlimited fuel and access (because the ore mines finally aren't flooded) to the ore needed for technological advancement. The next problem delaying technological advancement is transportation, because the roads are really lousy and it's slow and expensive to move the coal and the ore to the ironmongering shops.

1708 - The first public German theatre opens in Vienna. 1709 - In England, the Dorset Garden Theatre*, designed by Christopher Wren,* is torn

down. By this time written works (like plays) can be copyrighted for 14 years and playwrights can sell the copyright to theatre companies. The playwrights get no royalties beyond this original payment. After the 14 years the copyright reverts to the author and it can be renewed for another 14.

1709 George Berkeley* (that Irish philosopher) comes out with A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge*. He is known for his system of subjective idealism (Berkeleianism.)

What with all that European confusion, war and economic downturn earlier, a new wave of immigrants starts. From the Palatinate in Germany, (that's sort of Bavaria), 14,000 emigrate to America.

1710 - The European composer, George Frederic Handel* (1685-1759,) arrives in London. Also, the first literary periodical, "the Examiner," appears. In Vienna we find the first appearance of the comedy clown Hanswurst* in suburban theatres. In Paris, a novelist and playwright, Alain Rene Lesage,* comes out with his outstanding

comedy, Turcaret*. He will soon get into a dispute with the Comedie Francaise* and quit them to write for the theatres at the fairs. He seems to be one of the people responsible for originating the French Comic Opera (Opera Comique).

Outstanding English and Irish Actors Between 1710 and 1730 there are a number of prominent actors on the English stage. To be

prominent means that the public goes to see the actor rather than the play. Some of the best known (today) are:

Colley Cibber* (1671-1757) who started acting in 1690 and worked for Rich playing leads (especially fops) and writing popular plays. In 1710 he becomes one of the managers and leading players at Drury Lane*. He will later (1740) publish his autobiography which is a mine of information on the English theatre 1690-1735.

Robert Wilks* (c. 1665-1732, begins in Irish theatre) was an established actor in tragedy and dashing young hero roles in comedy at Drury Lane* by 1698. He, too, becomes one of the managers and leading players there.

Thomas Doggett* (1670-1721, begins in Irish theatre) playing low comedian roles. He comes to London in 1691 and joins the management of Drury Lane*in 1710 but quits in 1713.

Barton Booth* (1681-1733, begins in Irish theatre) comes to London in 1700. He plays secondary roles until, in 1713, by royal order, he is admitted to the management of Drury Lane*. He becomes the finest tragic actor in London.

Anne Oldfield* (1683-1730) goes on the stage about 1700. She plays both comedy and tragedy, but is best known for her success in high comedy. She will be the first actress to be honored with burial in Westminster Abbey.

By 1733 these actors will all be dead or retired. The only well known actor to remain will be James Quin* (1693-1766, begins in Irish theatre) who starts acting in 1712 at Smock Alley

Theatre* in Dublin. In two more years he will be playing small parts at Drury Lane*. He is the last of the actors who achieve success with a declamatory style. Although he prefers doing tragedy, audiences love his comic portrayals, especially when he plays Falstaff*.

1713 In England, this year marks the last execution for witchcraft. 1713 In Prussia, Frederick I dies and his son Frederick II*, later known as Frederick The

Great,starts ruling. He quits using foreign mercenaries as troops and develops native forces by requiring all peasants in each canton or district to be liable for two years military service in the rank and file. The officer class is the Prussian aristocracy ["Junkers"] where military service is a traditional career. He will build a terrific, highly disciplined and efficient army. They are the ones who begin marching in step, aiming for uniformity through extreme discipline (sometimes driving soldiers to suicide.) They invent the iron ramrod and increase the speed of musketry. [We will see these guys being hired to fight in the American Revolution by the English.] Frederick* regulates civil life as well. He sets up a General Directory to translate royal decisions into written instructions and supervise implementation as well. Frederick* draws up a 297 page manual for all public employers.

1713 - The School of Dance is established at the Paris Opera. 1714 Queen Anne* of England dies this year without an heir. No problem, parliament's Act of

Settlement enables them to go shopping for a suitable ruler. This is where the German rulers of England come from. James*' granddaughter Sophia married into the German house of Hanover and had a son. This son, George*, has been king of Hanover since 1698 and is the next in line for the English throne. This year he succeeds to the British throne as George* I (rules 1714-1727.) He can't speak English and spends half of most years ruling his home turf in Hanover. This does not serve England very well.

In Prussia witchcraft trials are abolished.

In England (or he may have been in Holland at the time) Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit* (1686- 1736) comes up with his mercury thermometer with a temperature scale. This work provides the Fahrenheit scale in use in America and England.

1714 - In America, the Governor of New York, Robert Hunter*, publishes a theatrical political satire against his opponents called Androboros*. This is the earliest extant American play.

1715 - In Paris vaudevilles and musical comedies appear. These are a way of avoiding government restrictions on what company can perform where. They are also very appealing to the public.

1715 In England there is a Jacobite* revolt trying to put the "Old Pretender" (James III*, son of the last JamEs II* who got bounced for being Catholic - remember that they call him James

III because the French King said so) In France, Louis XIV* dies and his grandson Louis XV*, age five, is crowned. He is under

the regency of the Duc d'Oreleans. 1716 -1717 theatrical season in London is the time when John Rich** (1692-1761), the son of

Christopher Rich*, (who manages both the Lincoln's Inn Fields* and Covent Garden* theatres), establishes the pattern of English pantomime* with Harlequin Executed*. As is evident by its title this theatrical form owes something to the Italian Commedia del'Arte* as well as John Weaver's dances with a connected story. There is also a mix of serious scenes featuring classical mythology (a sort of popular version of the earlier court masques*) with hilarious scenes using the commedia characters. There is musical accompaniment for much of the action and lots of grand spectacle. While Rich will write only about twenty of these, at least nine will be revived at regular intervals. Rich**, acting under the name of Lun*, becomes the most famous and accomplished English pantomimist of the century.

1716 - The first American theater is built by William Levington* of Williamsburg, Virginia*. It is uncertain what kind of programs are produced here, but at least the Americans know they need theatre buildings and they are starting to do something positive about it.

In France, the Italian Commedia del'Arte* is invited back to Paris and the Hotel de Bourgogne*. They come back but they are now doing a number of different shows.

1717 In Prussia education is being promoted by Frederick* and school attendance is made compulsory.

In music Bach* and Handel* are busy writing and performing their works. 1718 England is at war with Spain again. England also issues the first bank notes this year.

Voltaire* - 1718

This year in France one of the most influential theatrical figures of his time, Voltaire* (1694- 1778), comes out with his first play, Oedipe*. He writes it while imprisoned in the Bastille for writing a political lampoon. This tragedy is successful and, together with his other writings (plays, theatre criticism, philosophy, history, etc.), brings him fame, social advancement and a

Court position. He will become a very wealthy man, passionately addicted to theatre, a keen (but not professional) actor and builder of several private theatres where he can do private theatricals. He becomes a great friend of a number of French actors of the time and will be elected to the French Academy in 1746. He lives to a ripe old age and, at the age of 84, gets to see his last tragedy, Irene* (1778) performed on the stage of the Comedie Francaise*. His contemporaries regard his tragedies as comparable to Corneille and Racine but the days of neoclassic tragedy are over. He is exiled from France over a political quarrel and spends 1726-29 in London where he learns English and goes to the playhouses. He reads the Restoration playwrights and Shakespeare in the original and really learns from them. He is big on using plays as a vehicle for expressing controversial and philosophical ideas. He will later oppose the French genre, Comedie Larmoyante* (tearful comedy, see below 1733), calling it

a "tragedy for chambermaids." This doesn't prevent him from writing a bunch of drames* himself. [A drame* is a type of French play. So named by Denis Diderot* to describe his own plays, combining tragedy and comedy and dealing seriously with middle-class domestic problems.] One of his big contributions to theatre is his role in bringing about the elimination of spectators sitting on the stage. Among his best known tragedies are:

Zaire* (1732) [based on Shakespeare's Othello*] Alzire* (1736) Mahomet ou le Fanatism* (1741) L'Orphelin de la Chine* (1755) Some of his drames* are: L'Enfant prodigue* (1736) Nanine* (1749) [based on Richardson*'s novel - see below] One of his philosophical novels, later adapted for the stage is: Candide* (1759) [a satire on the philosophical optimism of Pope and Leibnitz*] He visits a number of courts of enlightened rulers and corresponds with them throughout his

lifetime. He unceasingly attacks religious bigotry, tyrannical oppression and intolerance. In his works we also see the first influences of the cultures of the Far East creeping into the West.

1718 - In Germany, one of the most influential German theatre figures surfaces now. Carolina (or Caroline) (1697-1760) marries Johann Neuber* this year, becoming known as Carolina Neuber,* and they both join a German acting troupe. She is an excellent actress and will become an exceptional theatre troupe manager, influencing several generations of innovative actors and managers.

In France the theatrical companies that play the fairs are suppressed. 1719 France joins England in war on Spain. This has to do with all that business of founding

colonies and foreign trade.

The Jesuits are expelled from Russia. 1719 - The Royal Academy of Music* is founded as the home of opera in England. Opera is

never a financial success but continues to attract patronage from the aristocracy (who want to keep up with the Italians and Austrians.)

1720's During this time in Germany a literary critic, Johann Christoph Gottsched * (1700-66), becomes the intellectual theatrical leader of Germany. He wants to reform the German stage along the lines of the French neoclassical theatre.

In England the Old Haymarket* Theatre opens.