French Theatre in the Neo-classical Era, 1550–1789
French Theatre in the Neo-classical Era, 1550–1789
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inc GSTThis 1997 book covers the period which saw the establishment in France of a centralized official theatre - not only the Comédie-Française (the first 'national' theatre), but an Italian theatre and a state opera; the often subversive independent theatres are also discussed. Nearly 1,000 documents deal with censorship and other aspects of external control, company management, the acting profession, dramatic theory and criticism, theatre architecture, settings and costumes, audience composition and behaviour. Over 120 pictorial documents - architectural drawings, technical engravings, frontispieces, portraits, etc. - provide a visual dimension where relevant. A full linking narrative and a copious bibliography help to make this an important reference work and a valuable research tool.
- The first book to bring together documents in this era of theatre history
- Contains rare and valuable photographs
- Offers the first translation into English of many relevant documents
Reviews & endorsements
Review of the hardback: 'The book is put together by a team of specialists in theatre history. It presents a very complete picture - all the main documents are present, at least in extract. But the beauty of this collection is that it is a serious and comprehensive research tool, which yet leaves the reader's imagination free to roam.' The Times Literary Supplement
Review of the hardback: 'Vibrant with life and movement, and offering a wealth of factual detail on costs, costumes, scenery, stage design and special effects, and abundant anecdotal evidence about the trials and tribulations of an actor's life, this documentary history will be much appreciated by the teachers and students for whom it is intended.' New Theatre Quarterly
Product details
August 1997Hardback
9780521230131
762 pages
236 × 158 × 42 mm
1.465kg
129 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- List of documents
- General editors' preface
- Editor's preface
- Historical references and glossary
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I. 1550–1630 Christopher Smith:
- 1. Documents of control
- 2. Humanist drama
- 3. Theatre in Paris
- 4. Theatre in the provinces
- 5. Theatre at court
- Part II. 1630–80 Edward Forman, Michael O'Regan and William D. Howarth:
- 6. Documents of control
- 7. Playhouses and companies
- 8. Actors and acting
- 9. Mise-en-scène and costume
- 10. Audiences
- 11. Authors and their critics
- Part III. 1680–1715 Jan Clarke
- 12. Documents of control
- 13. Company documents
- 14. Playhouses
- 15. The play in rehearsal and performance
- 16. Audiences
- 17. Provincial and amateur theatre
- 18. The morality debate
- Part IV. 1715–91 John Golder and William D. Howarth:
- 19. Documents of control
- 20. Company administration
- 21. Theatre architecture
- 22. Stage presentation
- 23. Actors and acting
- 24. Audiences, critics and the eighteenth-century repertoire
- 25. Censorship and the morality debate
- 26. Independent, provincial and private theatres
- 27. Actors and authors
- the end of the ancien régime
- Bibliography.
