Objectives for this lesson:

Students will examine:

Sources

Four Qualities of Greek Drama

The Greek Tragedy

The Satyr Play

The Greek Comedy

Actors and Acting

Sources

Everything we think we know from the Ancient Greek theatre, and about the origins of theatre, comes from the following sources:

From the 5th century B.C.:

Three Playwrights:

Tragedies:

Comedies

From the 4th century B.C., there are some lengthy extant fragments of some of the 100 plus plays of :

This period was called the period of New Comedy (Aristophanes was Old Comedy)
{Top of Page}

Sources of information for theatre origins and Greek theatre:

8th century B.C. -- the first drama in recorded history.

By 5th century B.C. The "polis" or city-state was the governing unit.

Athens was the strongest polis for art and literature - the first democracy -- all could participate (citizens -- no women, slaves, or foreigners)

Pericles (c. 460-430 B.C.) -- "first citizen" of Athens -- led Athens in the "Golden Age of Greece" -- "Age of Pericles" -- he emphasized culture --architecture, art, and drama

Had temples and public building built, including the Theatre of Dionysus (Dionysus) and the Parthenon

Athens was defeated in the Peloponnesian War in 404 B.C.

Greek society viewed gods in human terms - gods held grudges, etc., fought with each other - therefor their destiny (and those of humans) was uncertain

A strong concern for humanity - the founders of philosophy came from this period

Humans were elevated from animals, but harmony depended on a conjunction of human and divine forces. If disharmony, peace was endangered.

Drama therefore focused on human struggles, but with a "supernatural" element.
{Top of Page}

Four Qualities of Greek Drama:

1. Performed for special occasions (festivals)

Athens had four festivals worshipping Dionysus -- (Bacchus in

Latin, Roman) god of wine, fertility, rebirth

The son of Zeus [a god] and Semele [a mortal], reared by satyrs, killed, dismembered, and resurrected (was actually reborn) --

Actors and playwrights competed --Oedipus apparently didn't win

(was 2nd) -- 430 B.C.

3. Choral -- singing seems to have been an important part

a chorus of men (varied in size form 3 to 50) -- many think the choral song -- dithyramb-- was the beginnings of Greek drama (but origins are unclear)

4. Closely associated with religion - stories based on myth or history

Some believe the chorus sang, moved, danced

Most believe the chorus underscored the ideas of the play, provided point-of-view, and focused on issues of the play and implications of the action, established the play's ethical system, and participated in the action

{Top of Page}

The Greek Tragedy

Structure of Greek Tragedy:

"The Artists of Dionysus" seem to have been a sort of actors' union in the 3rd century B.C.


The Three Greek Tragedieans:

1. Aeschylus - his are the oldest surviving plays - began competing 449 B.C. at Dionysus Theatre. Most of his plays were part of trilogies; the only extant Greek trilogy is The Orestia.

He is Believed to have introduced the 2^nd actor (Thespis was one, the 2^nd added; after 468 B.C. Sophocles is believed to have introduced the 3^rd actor, which Aeschylus then used.

{Top of Page}

Characteristics of Aeschylus's plays:

2. Sophocles: (496-406 B.C.) won 24 contests, never lower than 2^nd; believed to have introduced the 3^rd actor; fixed the chorus at 15 (had been 50)

Characteristics of Sophocles' plays:

{Top of Page}

3. Euripides (480-406 B.C.) very popular in later Greek times, little appreciated during his life sometimes known as "the father of melodrama"

Characteristics of Euripides' plays:

Tragedy was abandoned in favor of melodramatic treatment.

Theme emphasized: sometimes chance rules world, people are more concerned with morals than gods are.

{Top of Page}

The Satyr Play

The Satyr Play, of unknown origin, had to be mastered by tragedians

Examples:

The Cyclops - Euripides - from The Odyssey - where Odyssus meets the Cyclops and a captive band of satyrs

The Trackers - Sophocles - much is extant - about Apollo's attempt to find a herd of cattle stolen by Hermes, god of thieves.

{Top of Page}

Greek Comedy

Structure of the Comedy:

Part One:

Part Two:

Production / Finance:

Playwrights applied to the archon (religious leader) for a chorus.

Expense borne by a choregai, wealthy citizen chosen by the archon as part of civic / religious duty

Choregus paid for training, costuming, etc. (tho' term choregus also refers to leader of the chorus.

The State responsible for theatre buildings, prizes, payments to actors (and perhaps to playwrights). Prizes were awarded jointly to playwrights and choregus.

Dramatists themselves probably "directed" the tragic plays, but probably not the comedies.

Aeschylus and others in his time acted, trained chorus, wrote music, choreographed, etc.

Playwrights called didaskalas (teacher) -- [didactic = teaching].

{Top of Page}

Actors and Acting:

Tragedy:

Playwrights originally acted, but by 449 B.C. with the contests for tragic actors, they didn't.

Actors were semi-professional, at best.

Three-actor rule (that only three actors were in productions) - seems supported by evidence, but questioned by some.

Oedipus at Colonus - could have only three actors, but only if a different actor played the same character in different scenes.

Comedy:

Fewer restrictions

Playwrights cast till 449 B.C., with the advent of the contests, then the main actors were chosen by lot and the others by the main actors and the playwright.

Actors were paid by the State.

Only the leading actors were eligible for competition.

A vocal acting - declamatory - to project appropriate emotional tone, mood, and character.

Three kinds of delivery: speech, recitative, and song.

No facial importance - masks used.

Gesture and movement were broadened and simplified.

{Top of Page}

Acting styles:

Actors usually played more than one role

Men played all the parts

Stylized - used masks, choral declamation, etc.

Tragedy leaned toward idealization; comedy toward burlesque.

Other elements affecting 5^th century Greek productions:

The chorus - tragedies

dominant in early tragedies (so main actors could change roles ?)

by Euripides, chorus only loosely related to the action

Size:

traditional view : from 50 to 12 to 15.

Generally believed to be 15 by the time of Sophocles and Euripides.

Later diminished in time.

Entered with stately march, sometimes singing or in small groups.

Choral passages sung and danced in unison, sometimes divided into two groups.

Sometimes exchanged dialog with the main characters, rarely individual speaking (though some say the choregus  may have spoken / sung alone).

The type of groupings are unknown.

{Top of Page}

Chorus for "Old Comedy" (Menander's plays are considered to be Greek "New Comedy"):

24 people, sometimes divided into two

Could have both genders (Lysistrata).

More varied entrances, groupings, etc.

More active

In both comedy and tragedy, the chorus probably entered after the prolog and then stayed.

Functions of the chorus

1. an agent: gives advice, asks, takes part

2. establishes ethical framework, sets up standard by which action will be judged

3. ideal spectator - reacts as playwright hopes audience would

4. sets mood and heightens dramatic effects

5. adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance

6. rhythmical function - pauses / paces the action so that the audience can reflect.

The chorus was usually made up of amateurs - 11 months training - the most expensive part of the production.

Music - most believe music was integral-most dialog was recitative (retch-ee-tah-teev')

{Top of Page}

Dance:

Most agree more on comic costumes:

Greek "New Comedy":

The plays of Menander are the only surviving fragments...

Instead of Old Comedy's focus on social, political, and cultural satire, Greek New Comedy dealt with romantic and domestic problems.

The Didaskalia project at Berkeley has a valuable section on ancient Greek Theatre -- I highly recommend that you visit that site.

{Top of Page}

Next Section: Roman