Early Modern France

Moliere was a very inspiring an. His writings influenced the way sixteenth century writers would perform there plays. This was a time of competition. Writers were competing for the audience because more and more theater companies and plays were performing.

Early Modern France

In Early Modern France, performances known as comedy ballets were everywhere. These comedy ballet were really the breakthrough in the motion of song and dance. Finally playwrights were finally connected the song and dance to the story and helping it drive the plot.
Now in our performance you will see a similar movement from what we believe is a replica of how the performers of the late sixteenth century danced.
These performances were usually performed for the king. To give you an idea of the movement from this day we set up this video. This video is a video is based on the movement from a play written by John Baptiste.

Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance era was packed with inspiring people that changed the way theater wold manage and carry itself throughout history. These people are the ones who should be credited for when it comes to building. One person in particular named, Giacome Tortelli. This brilliant man had the idea that is used every day in theater today. His idea was to move sets on and off the stage. He really thought that the appearance of how the stage looked affected the perfromances. Giacome Tortelli created a way to move sets into the wings of the stage and manuver tem back on stage when neccassary.
His sets designs were so extravagent it brought the audiences eye to the horizon and beyond. This Italian Architect created a new rhythm to the stage of performance and Opera. This man is known as the most important engineer, architect, and set designer of the seventeenth century.
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-TorelliGiacomo.html

Italy

A breakthrough was happening during this time period. This breakthrough would be used and referred too for centuries to come. In fact, this breakthrough would change the way theater would be performed on stage and performed. It is simply known as set design. Set Design really hit hard during the Early Modern Italy (1636). People began using many different types of aspects to the theater. And to say the least, theater was growing in a way history has never seen before. It was growing all because the technical side was evolving. Prior to this new wave of lighting, most performances would take place during the day time where light was obviously apparent. Unless an extremely important festival was taking part, rarely did performances take place through night.

Imagine attending the theater and suddenly get slapped in the face with hot oil! This is something that would happen quite often during the trial and error of the technical era of theater. It is actually quite interesting, as well as dangerous, how lighting was done when it all began. Oil lamps were carefully placed on stage and off to give the proper lighting. Proscenium lighting was also used for effect. They would place these oil lamps on the strongest beams they could find and cross there fingers that the vibrations from dancing and other movement would not disturb them. And they really were clever in the way they assembled and handled these lights. They would bind a tape fuse made of wire, spun with petroleum or any inflammable material, and they would secure these heavy oil lamps with wire all the way down the auditorium. It is almost unreal to think how risky this all was. But just think, this brave act brought a new wave in theater. So enjoy the show, and the next time you look at the lighting, think of how lucky you are to have secure lighting above your head.

Germany & Spain

The most fabulous things bout the plays from Early Modern Spain was the specific costuming. It is most obvious that you were watching a play that was Spanish or written by a Spanish writer because of the detail and uniqueness of the costuming. Costuming was a big part of theater during this time period. The actors wanted to 'look the part' when performing in front of their audience. In fact, they even incorporated many of there stage directions into the movement. There capes, swords, and hats never went unnoticed and they enhanced the story as well as the actors.

Germany

This was a time when science was starting to be discovered. People were starting to use the stars and sky as a key into how they incorporate science into there daily life's. This fact can be seen in this certain production of "The Truth Suspected." Throughout the play you will hear many insights to this new discovery they were having. The characters speak quite often about the stars and what theymean to them. So keep in mind when they keep in mind when they speak about the stars, moon, and universe, tey are speaking of science.
Now, every generation goes through their own trail and error of new things and inventions. But science was creating both a positive and negative influence on the people. This new discovery was also taking a tole with the Catholic church. Many believers said that finding a way to look at life and using science in a powerful tactic was a way to go against God. Believers also said that Science was dangerous. In this play we wanted to react this level of questioning.
It is a blessing that playwrights of the time period mainly wrote what was happening at the time. This gives us facts and adds to our knowledge of history.