Melodrama

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to: Demonstrate an awareness of the conventions

of melodrama Create 4 of the stock characters of melodrama Create an improvisation based on the 4 stock

characters

Background- Melodrama was a popular genre of theatre in

19th Century Victorian England- The word Melodrama comes from the Greek

word ‘melos’. It is a combination of the words ‘melody’ and ‘drama’.

- Music was integral to the plays and was typically used to heighten dramatic tension

- Melodramatic acting is over the top and exaggerated

- Lines are played out front so the dialogue is almost a conversation between the actor and the audience

Conventions of Melodrama Audience participation Good verses evil Melodramatic body language Exaggerated, over the top acting Stock characters Music used to heighten moments of suspense,

conflict & tension

Hiss, Boo and Cheer!

The audience were actively invited to hiss or boo the villain, and cheer the hero!

Q: Where do we see this type of audience participation today?

Good verses EvilGood characters entered and exited stage

right while wicked characters came on and off stage left.

Wicked characters were always punished at the end of the play. They tended to wear the colour black.

Good characters always triumphed in the end. They delivered the moral message. They tended to wear the innocent colour white.

Stock Characters

The Villain. These are the The Hero. typical stockThe Mother. characters thatThe Innocent. regularly appearedThe Sidekick. in Melodrama.The Fortuneteller.

THE MOTHERThe mother is both caring and protective.

THE HEROThe hero is the protagonist (the chief

person in the drama), handsome, strong, and brave.

THE VILLAIN The villain is the antagonist (an opponent

or adversary), evil, hunched, sneaky, ugly.

THE INNOCENTThe innocent is young, beautiful, soft,

light, innocent.