2. Greek Drama Greek Drama reflected the flaws and values of Greek society. In turn, members of society internalized both the positive and negative messages, and incorporated them into their daily lives. This concept of exposing society’s flaws and allowing the audience to learn from them is evident in contemporary theater.
3. Son of Zeus and Semele God of wine, fertility, grapes, ecstasy, madness, pleasure, festivity, etc. One of the 12 Olympians Responsible for human impulses Devine mission: eradicate all care and worry Described as feminine; “man-womanish” Honored him through theater festivals Dionysus “…wait a moment while I fetch you some mellow wine, so that you may first make liberation to Zeus and the other immortals and then, if you like, enjoy a drink for yourself. Wine is a great comfort to a weary man…” (Hecabe to Hector . Homer, Iliad6.260).
4. Athens as a center of Greek Culture Greek city-state known for its cultural, political and military power between 550 and 220 BCE Festival known as City Dionysia held in March in honor of Dionysus. Statue of Dionysus was carried into theater so that he could observe the performance
10. Performance always preceded by a sacrifice to Dionysus Prologue Parados First Episode First Stasimon Exodus Sequence of a Play
11. Actors wore mask with exaggerated features and wide mouths so that their voices projected to the entire audience Wore long, trailing robes with elaborate designs At the bottom of each of the actors’ shoes was a 6 inch wooden sole to make them appear tall and intimidating Carried themselves with grand esteem an moved gracefully about the stage Costumes
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13. Occasionally used for comic effectIn general, playwrights liked to leave much of the action to the audience’s imagination Stage Equipment
14. Job of choregos (think “The Producers”) to pay all expenses on a production, bulk of which went toward providing training and costumes for chorus An estimate of approximately 1500 people needed to stage a play A Greek historian named Plutarch claimed that Athenians spent more on their plays than on their military defense Originally, admittance fee was 2 obolus Later, Pericles made it free It was either “sink or swim” when getting production on it’s feet Funding
15. Playwrights had to writers, as well as composers, choreographers, designers, directors and actors Playwrights only received pay if they won first prize Actors were chosen by lot from a pool of professionals Speaking parts were allotted to three male characters Switched costumes and masks if more characters were required to advance the plotline. Playwrights and Actors
21. Responsible for many other theater rituals, such as the wearing if masksLater Aeschylus established a second actor and Sophocles added a third actor Playwrights and Actors(cont.)
22. The word “chorus” literally means “dance” Most Greek choruses blended music, dance and song Chorus began with 50 members, but dwindled to about 12-15, as the training and costuming for them was very costly Chorus entered orchestra during Parados and remained there for the whole play Purpose of chorus was to create foreshadowing and suspense Helps audience feel more involved in play Also to help the audience come to their own conclusions about the events unfolding before them. The Chorus
24. Tragodia in Greek Derived from the words Tragos, meaning goat and oide, meaning song. Reason for this obscure origin has two possibilities: Choruses were dressed in loin-skins of goats Prize for best song was a goat Requirements for a Tragedian: Submit three tragedies to a magistrate called the archon eponymos Also had to submit a satyr play The Tragedy
25. Centered around the rise and downfall of the “hero” The conclusion of a tragedy was usually a messenger coming out to tell the audience of the tragic consequences of the characters’ actions The Tragedy(cont.)
26. Slapstick and crude humor Festival of Lenaia held in March Comedies usually concluded with a “happy ending” and the characters find a resolution to the original conflict The Comedy
