The Great Naturalistic Playwrights
The two most notable Naturalistic playwrights are Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen
Chekhov worked with Stanislavski at the Moscow Art Theatre.
Ibsen is widely referred to as the 'father' of modern drama.
(Pretty strong references...I think you'll agree)
These authors believed in the acting method that was proposed and developed by Stanislavski; their plays had scenic reality, a linear timeline, thematic realism etc...
Basically they were written with this method of acting in mind.
For each of the following plays provide a short summary that makes note of the main events of the play, some of the characters, the moral/message and the context (time and place).
Chekhov worked with Stanislavski at the Moscow Art Theatre.
Ibsen is widely referred to as the 'father' of modern drama.
(Pretty strong references...I think you'll agree)
These authors believed in the acting method that was proposed and developed by Stanislavski; their plays had scenic reality, a linear timeline, thematic realism etc...
Basically they were written with this method of acting in mind.
For each of the following plays provide a short summary that makes note of the main events of the play, some of the characters, the moral/message and the context (time and place).
Anton Chekov
Three Sisters
The Cherry Orchard
The Seagull
Uncle Vanya
An Enemy of the People
Henrik Ibsen
Hedda Gabler
Ghosts
Peer Gynt
A Doll's House
Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen:
ReplyDeleteMrs.Alving is the main protagonist of this story; which involves her opening up an orphanage in the memory of her husband Captain Alving who died ten years ago. The play seemed quite scandalous at the time since it dealt with shocking issue such as children born out of wed-lock and a character suffer from syphilis. The main revolations include discovering Captain Alving was a respected man but he was unfaithful as well, also we learn that there son Oswald returns with the news he has syphills which he contracted in the womb and plans to marry the maid.
I fell that this play would be quite shocking even to a modern audience, so you can understand how shocking it was to a more tame audience.
http://www.enotes.com/authors/henrik-ibsen
An Enemy of the People, actually by Henrik Ibsen, sir ;).
ReplyDeleteThis play, set in the 19th century, of a seaside Norwegian town, deals with corrupt political systems, how the masses can quickly become malicious and refuse to be reasonable, and the idea of a man, driven to do only the right thing, is opposed and contested by most of the others in his berth.
Characters include Doctor Stockmann, the protagonist and a prominent member of the town.
The story opens with the town enjoying new prosperity due to a project headed by Dr. Stockmann, revolving around baths. All seems to be going well, before Dr. Stockmann finds out that waste from the settlement's tannery, due to the use of baths, is soiling the town's waters, causing disease and sickness; especially for those tourists, drawn into the village because of the baths. The only solution would cost the town quite a bit of money.
Despite his best efforts, the Doctor is unable to talk to the authorities about it, being shunned and not taken seriously, certainly not making it public knowledge; the end of this boon would mean the end of the town's newfound wealth. Eventually, the Doctor takes it upon himself to host a meeting.
The townspeople do not react very well to the news, mocking Stockmann and claiming him an anarchist, an 'Enemy of the People'; even Stockmann's friends turn against him.
Despite contemplating leaving to America, Stockmann eventually resolves to stay, carving out his position in the city as a doctor to the poor, as other facets of the society he was a part of shun his medical services. By the end of the play, Stockmann decides to set up a school for the poor, antagonising the town, and claiming that he, alone, is stronger than the corrupt masses.
'The Cherry Orchard' by Anton Chekhov-Premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski.It was Chekhov's last play.
ReplyDeleteMain characters
Madame. Ranevsky
Anya- Madame. Ranevsky's daughter (aged 17)
Varya-Ranevsky's adopted daughter (aged 22)
Gaev- Madame. Ranevsky's brother (aged
Lopakhin- a merchant
Peter Trofimov-Student at the local university
Simeonov-Pischin- a landowner
Charlotta-Anya's governess
Yephikodov- a klerk at the Ranevsky estate
Firs- Madame Ranevsky's Servant (aged 87)
Yasha-Young man-servant of Madame Ranevsky
Dunyasha-Maid on the estate.
Brief Synopsis
Madame Ranevsky owned an estate called 'The Cherry Orchard'. Madame Ranevsky love it because of all the memories at 'The Cherry Orchard' with her ancestors and the deep romantic attachement she had with it. In the mean time Madame Ranevsky loses the beatiful estate even though she liked the idea that lovers can stroll thorugh 'The Cherry Orchard' but it unfortually doesnt pay the bills. The Ranevsky's family is then encouraged by a man called Lophakin to build villas on the estate in order to pay the debt bills. Madame Ranevsky didnt like this idea at first but after a whils she become desperate for money to pay of her debts. Lophakin buys 'The Chery Orchard' when he had risen form the serfs. He then becomes greed of the land and let the building work for the villas begin on the orchard, reckon the bueaty of it.
Theme Of Play
I could only really find on theme in this paly and that was:
social change – as the Ranevsky's lose power and the former modern serfs take over
(sorry if this seems massive)