Edexcel A-Level 2024 Theatre History II
Exam 1 Review
Sentimentalism
A way of experiencing the world that emphasized emotions and a sensuous
appreciation of God, nature, and people. Part of the Romantic movement, it spread to
the United States from Europe in the late eighteenth century. Notable playwrights:
Susanna Centlivre, Richard Steele, and George Lillo
Susanna Centlivre
1669 - 1723; Was the most commercially successful woman playwright in the English
Restoration. She was primarily known for comedies and political satire. Primarily the
play "A Bold Stroke for a Wife."
A Bold Stroke for a Wife
Susanna Centlivre's 18th-century satirical English play first performed in 1718. The plot
expresses the author's unabashed support of the British Whig Party: she criticises the
Tories, religious hypocrisy, and the greed of capitalism.
Richard Steele
1672 - 1729; English essayist, dramatist, journalist, and politician, best known as
principal author of The Conscious Lovers. Regarded as one of the founding artists of
Sentimental Comedy
,The Conscious Lovers
1722 romantic comedy play written by Richard Steele. Seen as a prime example of the
Sentimental Comedy genre
Sentimental Comedy
18th-century genre that features middle-class characters finding happiness and true
love. Developed as a reaction to the immorality of Restoration drama. Produces "a joy
too exquisite for laughter"
George Lillo
1691 - 1739 English playwright and tragedian. His most famous play is The London
Merchant (1731), which is an early example of the Middle-class tragedy genre
The London Merchant
Playwright George Lillo's most famous work. Prime example of the Middle-class
tragedy. First performed at the Drury Lane Theatre on 21 June 1731, became one of the
most popular plays of the century
Middle-class Tragedy
This type of drama is characterized by a rejection of the neoclassical requirement of
royal protagonists and by plots focused on working class family concerns that rewarded
the virtuous, and punished the wicked
Satire
A literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules the vices, stupidities, and
follies of society. Popular theatrical genre of the 18th century
Henry Fielding
1707 - 1754; English writer and magistrate known for the use of humour and satire in
his works. Fielding is seen as the founder of the traditional English novel. Known for his
satirical play The Tragedy of Tragedies (or the Life and Death of Tom thumb the Great)
,The Tragedy of Tragedies
Satirical tragedy written by Henry Fielding in 1731. It is an expanded and reworked
version of one of his earlier plays, Tom Thumb, and tells the story of a character who is
small in stature and status, yet is granted the hand of Princess Huncamunca in
marriage
Pantomime
18th-century genre featuring performance using gestures and body movements without
words. Plays were often fairytales of some kind with additional elements of tragedy.
Plays often featured farce, satire and aspects of Commedia Dell Arte
John Gay
1685-1732, English dramatist who wrote enormously popular opera The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera
Ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay. It is one of the watershed plays
in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad
opera to remain popular today
Ballad Opera
Comic opera that mixed popular songs of the day with spoken dialogue; brought from
England to the colonies during the colonial period. Most popular example was John
Gay's The Beggars Opera
, John Rich
1692 - 1761; One of the most important directors and theatrical managers in England in
the 18th century; Noted as the producer of The Beggar's Opera, one of the most
popular plays of the time
Licensing Act of 1737
An English law that gave the Lord Chamberlain the authority to censor plays. All plays
must be submitted for approval and editing. Drury Lane and Covent Garden seen as the
only "legitimate theatres" in England
Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg
1740 - 1812; French painter, stage designer, and illustrator, active mainly in England.
He added specificity, asymmetry and local detail that made his set design extremely
popular and influential
Lines of Business
A range of roles in which an actor would specialize for the major part of his or her acting
career
Charles Macklin
1699 - 1797; Irish actor who performed extensively at Drury Lane. He revolutionized
theatre in the 18th century by introducing a "natural style" of acting. He introduced
observation and research as a method of character building
David Garrick
1717 - 1779; English actor and comanager of Drury Lane. Considered the first actor-
manager, or in a modern sense, the first director. Popularized Shakespeare at Drury
Lane. Widely considered to be the greatest English actor
Actor-manager
Exam 1 Review
Sentimentalism
A way of experiencing the world that emphasized emotions and a sensuous
appreciation of God, nature, and people. Part of the Romantic movement, it spread to
the United States from Europe in the late eighteenth century. Notable playwrights:
Susanna Centlivre, Richard Steele, and George Lillo
Susanna Centlivre
1669 - 1723; Was the most commercially successful woman playwright in the English
Restoration. She was primarily known for comedies and political satire. Primarily the
play "A Bold Stroke for a Wife."
A Bold Stroke for a Wife
Susanna Centlivre's 18th-century satirical English play first performed in 1718. The plot
expresses the author's unabashed support of the British Whig Party: she criticises the
Tories, religious hypocrisy, and the greed of capitalism.
Richard Steele
1672 - 1729; English essayist, dramatist, journalist, and politician, best known as
principal author of The Conscious Lovers. Regarded as one of the founding artists of
Sentimental Comedy
,The Conscious Lovers
1722 romantic comedy play written by Richard Steele. Seen as a prime example of the
Sentimental Comedy genre
Sentimental Comedy
18th-century genre that features middle-class characters finding happiness and true
love. Developed as a reaction to the immorality of Restoration drama. Produces "a joy
too exquisite for laughter"
George Lillo
1691 - 1739 English playwright and tragedian. His most famous play is The London
Merchant (1731), which is an early example of the Middle-class tragedy genre
The London Merchant
Playwright George Lillo's most famous work. Prime example of the Middle-class
tragedy. First performed at the Drury Lane Theatre on 21 June 1731, became one of the
most popular plays of the century
Middle-class Tragedy
This type of drama is characterized by a rejection of the neoclassical requirement of
royal protagonists and by plots focused on working class family concerns that rewarded
the virtuous, and punished the wicked
Satire
A literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules the vices, stupidities, and
follies of society. Popular theatrical genre of the 18th century
Henry Fielding
1707 - 1754; English writer and magistrate known for the use of humour and satire in
his works. Fielding is seen as the founder of the traditional English novel. Known for his
satirical play The Tragedy of Tragedies (or the Life and Death of Tom thumb the Great)
,The Tragedy of Tragedies
Satirical tragedy written by Henry Fielding in 1731. It is an expanded and reworked
version of one of his earlier plays, Tom Thumb, and tells the story of a character who is
small in stature and status, yet is granted the hand of Princess Huncamunca in
marriage
Pantomime
18th-century genre featuring performance using gestures and body movements without
words. Plays were often fairytales of some kind with additional elements of tragedy.
Plays often featured farce, satire and aspects of Commedia Dell Arte
John Gay
1685-1732, English dramatist who wrote enormously popular opera The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera
Ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay. It is one of the watershed plays
in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad
opera to remain popular today
Ballad Opera
Comic opera that mixed popular songs of the day with spoken dialogue; brought from
England to the colonies during the colonial period. Most popular example was John
Gay's The Beggars Opera
, John Rich
1692 - 1761; One of the most important directors and theatrical managers in England in
the 18th century; Noted as the producer of The Beggar's Opera, one of the most
popular plays of the time
Licensing Act of 1737
An English law that gave the Lord Chamberlain the authority to censor plays. All plays
must be submitted for approval and editing. Drury Lane and Covent Garden seen as the
only "legitimate theatres" in England
Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg
1740 - 1812; French painter, stage designer, and illustrator, active mainly in England.
He added specificity, asymmetry and local detail that made his set design extremely
popular and influential
Lines of Business
A range of roles in which an actor would specialize for the major part of his or her acting
career
Charles Macklin
1699 - 1797; Irish actor who performed extensively at Drury Lane. He revolutionized
theatre in the 18th century by introducing a "natural style" of acting. He introduced
observation and research as a method of character building
David Garrick
1717 - 1779; English actor and comanager of Drury Lane. Considered the first actor-
manager, or in a modern sense, the first director. Popularized Shakespeare at Drury
Lane. Widely considered to be the greatest English actor
Actor-manager
