Governmental Influence on Theatre

1. Governmental Influence on Theatre

3. Marriage of Figaro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPkiLseVfBE • 2:43-4:10 and 5:42-7:40 • The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais • Banned by Louis XVI, but loved by Marie Antoinette , shown to King in 1784 • (French Revolution 1789) • Play also banned in Vienna

5. 18th century controls on theatre • England – Patent theatres and the Licensing Act of 1737 • France – Subsidized three state theatres and placed restrictions on all other theatres • Germany – states provided subsidies to theatres.

6. England • Charles II issued two patents (licenses) to operate theatres to Killigrew and Davenant. • The patents were gradually sold off into shares • By 1737, Drury Lane and Covent Garden were the two patent theatres • Act of 1737 issued due to insult to Robert Walpole

7. Prime Minister Question Time • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngMs_4I1__o • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpZhugomNJE

8. Licensing Act of 1737 • Applied to “tragedy, comedy, opera, play, farce, or other entertainment of the stage, for gain, hire or reward” • Limited plays to City of Westminster (London) • Lord Chamberlain’s approval required for all plays • L.C. control until 1968

10. Licensing Act 1843 • Lord Chamberlain has to have a good reason to ban • Could ban if "it is fitting for the preservation of good manners, decorum or of the public peace so to do” • Allowed local governments to license theatres, the patent theatre system no longer in effect.

11. Effects – New forms • Burletta • 3 Act play with 5 or more songs per acts • Melodrama • Music + Drama • Later - Music Hall • Burlesque

12. France • Three subsidized theatres • CommedieFrancaise • Opera • CommedieItalienne

13. Boulevard Theatre • Located on Boulevard du Temple • Catered to popular tastes • Could produced shows more popular that the shows in subsidized theatres

14. Boulevard Forms • Comic opera • Pantomime • Melodrama • Variety • Later vaudeville

15. Germany

16. State subsidized theatres • Rulers established theatres • Some gave significant financial support beyond box office receipts • Stability • Government controlled theatre through the reward of financial support.

17. German Melodrama • Not need to avoid regulation • Develop out of theatrical interest in manipulating emotions in theatre through music

18. Governmental Influence • Censorship ex. Saved • Licensing – ex. Patent theatres • Regulation -ex. Licensing Act 1737 • Political pressure ex. Red Scare in USA/ USSR and theatre • Funding – NEA

19. Censorship in America • 1655 a play know as The Bear and the Cub was performed in Virginia • The actors were arrested on the charge of public wickedness • They were latter released

20. Censorship in America • 1750 the General Court of Massachusetts prohibited stage plays and theatrical entertainments of any kind • 1759, the House of Representatives in the Colony of Pennsylvania passed a law forbidding plays and acting. • 1761 Rhode Island passed a law preventing theatre from being performed • Northeast generally did not tolerate theatre due to heavy Puritan influences

21. NEA Four • Karen Finley, Tim Miller, John Fleck, and Holly Hughes

22. NEA vs. Finley • 1990 law requiring the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to consider “general standards of decency and respect” in the awarding of federal arts grants on behalf of performance artist • “NEA Four" received funding then lost it on the basis of decency,

23. NEA Four • they challenged the NEA’s decision based on freedom of speech. • 1998 Supreme Court ruled in an 8-1 opinion that the 1990 “standards of decency” statute was constitutional. As a result, NEA can deny funding based on the grounds of decency.