The Theatre Industry in Nineteenth-Century France
The Theatre Industry in Nineteenth-Century France
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This 1993 book explores the history of French theatre in the nineteenth century through its special role as an organized popular entertainment. Traditionally regarded as an elite art form, in post-Revolutionary France the stage began to be seen as an industry like any other and the theatre became one of the few areas of employment where women were in demand as much as men. The increasingly commercial ethos dominating the stage led to the mass production of plays with audience appeal, resulting in an inevitable dilution of literary standards. In this lively account, Hemmings examines how the theatre world flourished and evolved, and reveals such matters as the difficult life of the actress, salaries and contracts, and the profession of the playwright.
- Covers social and economic aspects of the theatre in nineteenth-century France
- Contains valuable primary information on actors' contracts, salaries, theatre management
- Contains useful guide to further reading
Product details
August 1993Hardback
9780521441421
336 pages
229 × 152 × 22 mm
0.66kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Chronology
- Introduction
- Part I. The Audiences:
- 1. Going to the theatre in the nineteenth century
- 2. The auditorium
- 3. Performance times - intervals - annual closures
- 4. First nights and previews
- 5. Order and disorder in the theatres
- 6. Applause and censure
- 7. The claque
- 8. Working-class audiences
- Part II. The Acting Profession:
- 9. A pariah profession
- 10. Social origins
- 11. Training for the stage
- 12. Salaries and contracts
- 13. The difficult life of the actress
- 14. Acting standards
- Part III. The Profession of Playwright:
- 15. The profession is organised
- 16. The closed shop
- 17. From acceptance to performance
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Guide to further reading
- Index.
