Movie-thon, Pt. 2

Continuing with our video regime, we began where we left off in the one about Setting the Stage or some other title regarding Restoration theater. Personally, I would have been much more interested in learning about the background and context of Restoration theater as opposed to the structure of its theaters at the time. Revolving around the first tennis courts transformed into theaters in London, following theaters in France and around Europe were all about intimate spaces and columns, or as the video liked to call them, "puh-lasters". Actual stages were quite small and rectangular as audience seating filled a pit area in addition to boxes on the surrounding walls. The entire point of theater at the time was to see theater and be seen by the other theater-goers of society. I felt that during this time period, the entire purpose of theater was lost to the innovations in architecture that were at times out of plain extravagance. What with amphitheater staging and "puh-lasters", simply viewing the performance was hard enough. The video then went on to explore certain architects that tried to stay true to the pure form of circles in theater. Though often unsuccessful, these circular theaters were by far the first of their kind in London at the time. Overall, though, the video was highly disinteresting, especially towards the end once the same ideas had been reiterated to death. Still, you learn something new everyday. Oh, and Restoration theater followed the time of Cromwell. Research, please?