How the Industrial Revolution Play a Role in the Development of Theatre
The industrial revolution was a period of significant transformation in various aspects of life. The mechanization of multiple tasks that were previously accomplished by hand improved efficiency in agriculture and various industries. Many factories were set up in various places, which attracted large populations resulting in urbanization phenomenon. The industrial revolution impacted not just the economic status of the regions where it was significantly felt. Instead, it affected various other aspects of life, such as social life. Theatre underwent a significant transformation during this era. The mechanization that drove the industrial revolution eliminated the overreliance on manual labor. With industrialization, various tasks could be accomplished faster than was initially the case. Consequently, people did not have to spend much time working. They had more time to spend on leisure. Theatre became the most popular and appreciated form of entertainment. Many playhouses were put up in urban areas to provide the entertainment needed by the growing urban population.
As interest in theatre grew, many changes occurred to meet the changing preferences in the field. Many larger playhouses sprung up across Europe. After 1817, theatres lit with gaslight began to emerge across Europe, hence replacing hundreds of candles that were initially used. A significant transformation in the way plays was written was also witnessed. In particular, three types of plays emerged: well-made plays, romantic plays, and melodramas. Romantic plays particularly marked a shift from the traditional approach to plays in various ways. Romanticism was characterized features, among which include the use of common language and focus on emotional spontaneity (Matz, 2014). Another remarkable feature of romantic plays is that they emphasized the importance of individual importance and self-expression. Romantic plays also emphasize imagination.
Melodrama also became popular during this period. This type of play emphasizes action and spectacular stage effects. Melodrama was mostly accompanied by music (Mercer & Shingler, 2013). The music mainly served the purpose of establishing a tense mood for the play. Melodrama plays commonly involved plays that pitted good characters against bad ones. In many cases, plays portrayed heroes as moral and handsome. A villain was portrayed as an evil character. Another feature of melodrama is that they often involved faithful servants who mainly served the interest of the hero. The villain’s accomplice, on the other hand, was always portrayed as idiotic. Another remarkable feature of melodrama plays is that they involved maidservant characters who were mainly loyal to the heroine. The plots of the melodrama were mainly divided into three parts. The first part, known as the provocation, involved the provocation of the occurrence of a trigger, which provoked the villain to commit evil against the hero and other good characters. The next part of the play referred to as pangs, involved the hero and other good people suffering from the evil acts of the villain. The last part, known as a penalty, involved punishment to the villains for their evil deeds.
Another type of play that emerged during the industrial revolution is well-made plays. The plot of well-made plays was such that events would build up to the climax in a logical manner (Taylor, 2013). The plays were also structured in such a manner that the audience had all the information they needed to understand how the plays unfolded. The plays also often foreshadowed various events to enable the audience to predict the outcomes of the theatre perfomance. Another development witnessed during this era was the emergence of the roles of directors. Unlike before, directors began taking an active role in various plays, in which case they would plan the delivery of plays. Overall, the era of the industrial revolution saw a significant evolution in theatre.
References
Matz, R. (2014). The world of Shakespeare’s sonnets: an introduction. McFarland.
Mercer, J., & Shingler, M. (2013). Melodrama: Genre, style and sensibility. Columbia University Press.
Taylor, J. R. (2013). The Rise and Fall of the Well-Made Play (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.