Concetti Chiave
- The abolition of Puritan laws in 1660 led to a more decadent cultural climate, with theatres reopening and shifting focus from tragedy to sophisticated social comedy.
- European influences on Restoration theater included French comedies by Molière and Italian Commedia dell'arte, contributing to the development of the Comedy of Manners.
- Restoration theater targeted upper-class audiences, contrasting with Renaissance plays like Shakespeare's, which appealed to all social classes.
- Aesthetic values during the Restoration emphasized luxury and elaborate fashion, reflecting in the tone and subject matter of contemporary plays.
- Significant changes in stage design and the acting profession marked the Restoration, with advancements in stage lighting and the introduction of women actors.
The abolition of puritan laws
The abolition of Puritan inspired laws lead to a more decadent artistic and cultural climate for the upper classes. Theatres were reopened in 1660 and there began a new type of theatre which was much lighter in tone than much of the drama of the Renaissance .The emphasis moved from tragedy to sophisticated social comedy ,or the comedy of Manners, as it became known as it was characterised by exaggerations of the manners, modes and moral of upper-class society.
European influences on theater
Among the most important European influences were the French comedies of Molière (1622-73) whose "Les Precieuses Ridicules"(1659), a satire upon an excessively fashionable and sophisticated circle in Paris,is considered the beginning of the Comedy of Manners tradition. Restoration comedies were also influenced by Italian "Commedia dell’arte" ,a type of popular comedy featuring absurd characters which developed in Italy in the 16th century, and by the Spanish playwright "Calderon de la barca"(1600-81).
Differences with Renaissance theater
A remarkable difference to Reinassance drama was the type of audience the comedy of manners was addressed to. While Shakespeare’s plays in particular were intended to please people from all social classes and education, Restoration plays were generally restricted to people of fashion and refinement from the upper classes. With emphasis on wit or quick humour and elegance of speech, Restoration comedy was inevitably more superficial, although the finest examples of the genre are able to show the human situation under the mask of sophistication.
Aesthetic values of the Restoration
In general, the aesthetic values of the Restoration were in marked contrast to the austerity of Puritanism. Both men and women began to cultivate their appearance and took to wearing elaborate wigs and clothes. Those who had the means lived a life of luxury and leisure. Pastimes included casual adultery, gambling and fighting duels. All of this was reflected in the tone and subject matter of the plays produced at this time. Another difference to Renaissance theatre regarded the numerous changes in stage design and in the acting profession itself. After 1660 the original Elizabethan theatre disappeared and was replaced by a style which moved progressively in the direction of theatre design as we know it today. Theatre now were roofed ,had painted sets and began to develop more sophisticated ways of stage lighting. More over, woman actors were employed, replacing the boys who used to take women’s roles during shakespeare’s time.
Domande da interrogazione
- What impact did the abolition of Puritan laws have on the arts and culture of the upper classes?
- How did European influences shape Restoration theatre?
- In what ways did Restoration theatre differ from Renaissance theatre?
- What were the aesthetic values of the Restoration period, and how did they contrast with Puritanism?
The abolition of Puritan laws led to a more decadent artistic and cultural climate for the upper classes, with theatres reopening in 1660 and a shift towards lighter, sophisticated social comedies known as the Comedy of Manners.
Restoration theatre was significantly influenced by European works, notably the French comedies of Molière and the Italian "Commedia dell’arte," as well as the Spanish playwright Calderon de la Barca, which contributed to the development of the Comedy of Manners.
Unlike Renaissance theatre, which catered to all social classes, Restoration theatre was aimed at the upper classes, focusing on wit and elegance. It also featured changes in stage design, the introduction of women actors, and a more superficial tone.
The Restoration period valued luxury, leisure, and elaborate appearances, contrasting sharply with Puritan austerity. This was reflected in the plays' tone and subject matter, as well as in the changes in theatre design and the acting profession.
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