French Theatre

Influenced by Spanish.

Confraternity of Passion

Held the monopoly of acting in Paris. Forbidden to perform in the religious plays that had been so popular.

This allowed commercial theatre to develop. A commercial theatre that was professional.

New plays and playwrights.

Alexandre hardy first professional French playwright.

Parisian theatres were never outdoors.

They developed theatres like the Italian indoor theatres.

The plays were remnants of the old Mysteres and Morality plays and new drama.

Farces were still much produced.

Three unities were followed.

Corneille wrote Le Cid, which inaugurated France’s greatest dramatic era. Chronicled the exploits of a great Spanish hero. Violated three unities.

Andromede is his other famous play.

Racine. Phedre. Based on Euripedes. Lyrical beauty of the dialogue. Abandoned his writing at the height of his powers to take a position at court.

Simple plot complex character. Inner struggle duty and desire.

Held fast to neo-classical rules.

Moliere.

Moliere was a renowned 17th century French dramatist, actor, director and all-around artist known for his innovative stage comedies.

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (/mo ʊ l ̍ j ɛ ər/ ;[1] French: [m ɔ .lj ɛːʁ ] ; 15 January 1622 – 17 February 1673), was a French playwright and

actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature.[2] Among Molière's best known works are The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, Tartuffe, The Miser, The Imaginary Invalid, and The Bourgeois Gentleman.

Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.[3]

Through the patronage of aristocrats including Philippe I, Duke of Orléans—the brother of Louis XIV—Molière procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, The Doctor in Love, Molière was granted the use of salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Later, Molière was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations he found success among Parisians with plays such as The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands and The School for Wives. This royal favour brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title Troupe du Roi ("The King's Troupe"). Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments.[4]

Though he received the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticism from moralists and the Catholic Church. Tartuffe and its attack on perceived religious hypocrisy roundly received condemnations from the Church, while Don Juan was banned from performance. Molière's hard work in so many theatrical capacities took its toll on his health and, by 1667, he was forced to take a break from the stage. In 1673, during a production of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière, who suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, was seized by a coughing fit and a haemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan. He finished the performance but collapsed again and died a few hours later.[4]

In June 1643, when Molière was 21, he decided to abandon his social class and pursue a career on the stage. Taking leave of his father, he joined the actress Madeleine Béjart, with whom he had crossed paths before, and founded the Illustre Théâtre with 630 livres. They were later joined by Madeleine's brother and sister

Though conventional thinkers, religious leaders, and medical professionals in Molière's time criticised his work, their ideas did not really diminish his widespread success with the public. Other playwrights and companies began to emulate his dramatic style in England and in France. Molière's works continued to garner positive feedback in 18th century England, but they were not so warmly welcomed in France at this time. However, during the French Restoration of the 19th century, Molière's comedies became popular with both the French public and the critics. portrayed. 20th century scholars have carried on this interest in Molière and his plays and have continued to study a wide array of issues relating to this playwright. Many critics now are shifting their attention from the philosophical, religious, and moral implications in his comedies to the more objective study of his comic technique.[13]

Five acts

exaggerated characters full of eccentricities

slapstick

deus ex machine

wrote and directed for his company

raised French comedy to the level of tragedy

Comedie Francaised 1680 built to house the French National theatrr

List of major works

Le Médecin volant (1645)—The Flying Doctor La Jalousie du barbouillé (1650) L'Étourdi ou Les Contretemps (1655)—The Blunderer Le Dépit amoureux (16 December 1656) Le Docteur amoureux (1658), the first play performed by Molière's

troupe for Louis XIV (now lost)—The Doctor in Love Les Précieuses ridicules (18 November 1659)—The Affected Young

Ladies Sganarelle ou Le Cocu imaginaire (28 May 1660)—Sganarelle, or the

Imaginary Cuckold Dom Garcie de Navarre ou Le Prince jaloux (4 February 1661)—Don

Garcia of Navarre or the Jealous Prince L'École des maris (24 June 1661)—The School for Husbands Les Fâcheux (17 August 1661)—The Mad L'École des femmes (26 December 1662; adapted into The Amorous

Flea, 1964)—The School for Wives La Jalousie du Gros-René (15 April 1663) La Critique de l'école des femmes (1 June 1663)—Critique of the

School for Wives L'Impromptu de Versailles (14 October 1663) Le Mariage forcé (29 January 1664)—The Forced Marriage Gros-René, petit enfant (27 April 1664; now lost) La Princesse d'Élide (8 May 1664)—The Princess of Elid Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur (12 May 1664)—Tartuffe Dom Juan ou Le Festin de pierre (15 February 1665)

L'Amour médecin (15 September 1665)—Love Is the Doctor Le Misanthrope ou L'Atrabilaire amoureux (4 June 1666)—The

Misanthrope Le Médecin malgré lui (6 August 1666)—The Doctor in Spite of

Himself Mélicerte (2 December 1666) Pastorale comique (5 January 1667) Le Sicilien ou L'Amour peintre (14 February 1667)—The Sicilian, or

Love the Painter Amphitryon (13 January 1668) George Dandin ou Le Mari confondu (18 July 1668)—George

Dandin, or the Abashed Husband L'Avare ou L'École du mensonge (9 September 1668)—The Miser Monsieur de Pourceaugnac (6 October 1669) Les Amants magnifiques (4 February 1670)—The Magnificent Lovers Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (14 October 1670)—The Bourgeois

Gentleman Psyché (17 January 1671)—Psyche Les Fourberies de Scapin (24 May 1671) La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas (2 December 1671) Les Femmes savantes (11 March 1672)—The Learned Ladies Le Malade imaginaire (10 February 1673)—The Imaginary Invalid

Cardinal Richileau - built theatres esp. Palais Cardinal which was based on It. Type of proscenium

1645 Torelli came to France and redid the Petit Bourbon into an Italianate system of chariot and pole.