Theater

Front 1

Interlude

Back 1

In medieval England, short dramatic pieces, usually presented between courses of a banquet.

Front 2

Masque

Back 2

Lavish form of private theatrical entertainment which developed in Renaissance Italy and spread rapidly to the courts of France and England. The masque combined poetry, music, elaborate costumes, and spectacular effects of stage machinery.

Front 3

Shutters

Back 3

Two large flat wings that close off a perspective setting in back.

Front 4

Cazuela

Back 4

In the Spanish golden age, the gallery located above the tavern in the back wall of a theatre; the area in which women were segregated.

Front 5

Mosqueteros

Back 5

In the Spanish golden age, the noisy groundlings in the corrales.

Front 6

Pensionnaire

Back 6

Hireling in a French acting troupe.

Front 7

De Witt drawing

Back 7

a sketch of The Swan theatre by Dutch visitor De Witt, one of the few primary resources we use to study Elizabethan playhouses.

Front 8

Tiring house

Back 8

In English Renaissance theatre, a three-story stage house behind the raised platform stage. Served as a place for changing costumes and storing props and set pieces.

Front 9

Drolls

Back 9

In seventeenth century England, short dramas that were either excerpts from or condensations of longer plays. Drolls were presented during the Commonwealth and at the beginning of the Restoration.

Front 10

Entremeses

Back 10

In the Spanish golden age, interludes during the intermissions of comedias; these could be comic sketches, songs, or dances.

Front 11

Zarzuela

Back 11

In the Spanish golden age, a court entertainment; usually a short, stylized musical drama based on mythology and with ornate scenic effects, influenced by Italian opera and intermezzi.

Front 12

Waki

Back 12

“Explainer”: in Japanese no, the second most important character.

Front 13

Comedia

Back 13

In the Spanish golden age, a three act full length nonreligious play.

Front 14

Capa y espada

Back 14

Full-length Spanish plays that revolved around intrigue and duels over honor.

Front 15

Carros

Back 15

In the Spanish golden age, pageant wagons on which autos sacrementales were staged.

Front 16

Intermezzi

Back 16

In the Italian Renaissance, entertainments performed between the acts of operas and full length plays.

Front 17

Hashigakari

Back 17

In no theatre, the bridge on which actors make their entrance from the dressing area to the platform stage.

Front 18

Patio

Back 18

In the Spanish golden age, the pit area for the audience.

Front 19

Alojero

Back 19

In corrales, the theaters of the Spanish golden age, a stand from which refreshments were sold.

Front 20

Doyen

Back 20

In the Comedie Francaise, the head of the company and the actor with the longest service.

Front 21

Fop

Back 21

In 17th century England a foolish man who cared too much about clothing etc.

Front 22

Shite

Back 22

the leading actor in no theatre.

Front 23

Parterre

Back 23

the pit where audience members stood.

Front 24

Paradis

Back 24

the third tier of galleries along the side walls.

Front 25

Loges

Back 25

boxes.

Front 26

Rake

Back 26

To position scenery on a slant or angle other than parallel or perpendicular to the curtain line; also an upward slope of the stage floor away from the audience.

Front 27

Corral

Back 27

In the Spanish golden age, a theatre usually located in the courtyard of a series of adjoining buildings.

Front 28

Gradas

Back 28

In the Spanish golden age, benches placed along the side walls of the patio or pit area in a corral.

Front 29

Lunetas

Back 29

In the Spanish golden age, semicircular benches located in the front of the pit.

Front 30

Societaire

Back 30

Shareholder in a French acting troupe.

Front 31

Inigo Jones

Back 31

court architect and designer who brought Italian innovations in scene design to England. These included temporary proscenium arches, raised stages, systems for changing scenery, painted-perspective stage sets, and flying machinery.

Front 32

Natyashastra

Back 32

Indian document “ The Study of Theatre” that describes the mythological origin of of theatre in India and presents important material about the nature of Indian drama, and a description of the theater space.