Theatre in the Victorian Age / Michael R. Booth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Booth, Michael R.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Theater--Great Britain--History--19th century.

Theater.

Great Britain.

History.

English drama--19th century--History and criticism.

English drama.

Physical Description:

xiv, 218 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge [England] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1991.

Summary:

This book examines all major aspects of theatre practice and dramatic literature of the Victorian period. Michael Booth's comprehensive survey explores the social and cultural context of the theatre including theatre management, the audience, architecture and production methods, acting and the job of actor, as well as the drama itself. Within this framework, Booth discusses such topics as the effect on theatre of population growth and the spread of the railway system, the typical organisation of a Victorian theatre company, the contribution to theatre of several important Victorian actor-managers, the use of stage machinery and lighting instruments, and the stock company and the rehearsal system. The volume also includes a chapter on sources, numerous previously unpublished illustrations, and a chronology. The result is a lively and informative account of the diversity, energy and colour of the Victorian stage, the whole period comprising one of the most fascinating and vigorous eras in the history of the English theatre.

Contents:

1 Theatre and society 1

Audiences and social class 2

Population growth and new theatres 3

Audience composition 6

The music hall 11

Railways 14

Provincial theatres 16

Touring companies 18

Religious attitudes to theatre 21

2 Management 27

Managerial responsibilities 28

Motivation and capital investment 31

Company organisation and expenses 33

Revenue and pricing policy 38

Macready 41

Vestris 44

Phelps 46

Charles Kean 47

Calvert and Saker 49

Wilton and Bancroft 52

Irving 54

Dominance of the actor-manager 55

3 Playhouse and production 58

The auditorium 58

Sanitation 66

Safety and fire protection 67

The stage and stage machinery 70

Scene-painting 80

Lighting and scenic effect 82

Sound effects 93

Technical rehearsals 94

Pictorialism and archaeology 95

Realism 96

4 The actor 99

Going on stage 99

Workload 102

Rehearsals 104

Touring company employment 109

The West End actor 111

Actresses 112

Costume and makeup 114

Wages 117

Pictorialisation and elevation 120

Vocal delivery and music 121

Acting space 124

The point 125

The stock company and lines of business 125

Melodramatic acting 129

Transvestism and duration 130

Realism, refinement and the domestic 131

Approaches to acting 133

Psychology 137

5 Dramatists and the drama 141

Income and copyright 142

Censorship and audience taste 145

Tragedy 148

Knowles 149

Melodrama 150

Middle-class prejudice 162

Class hatred 163

Business crime 164

Boucicault 167

Ibsen 169

Jones and Pinero 174

Shaw and Wilde 176

Comedy 178

Robertson 182

Byron 184

Gilbert 185

1890s comedy 187

Farce 189

Planche and extravaganza 194

Burlesque 196

Pantomime 198.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-209) and index.

ISBN:

0521343518

0521348374

OCLC:

22624491