What's So Romantic About It?

Reports are back! This time it is on the various styles of theatre. Kim and I chose "Romantic Drama" which when you really think about it isn't that romantic at all. It was simply named so because it followed the Romantic period. Movement during this time was exaggerated and over-emphasized for the large audiences. Apparently interest in theatre was revived just prior to the introduction of romantic drama. In researching the style, I was often reminded of melodrama and even Commedia dell'Arte where the basis is founded on the physicality of the performance. The theatre at this time still seemed undeveloped in the sense that audiences mostly attended for the thrills and frills. There was a definite emphasis on optical illusions and the kinds of stunts that a company could perform. These tricks were the focus of all advertising--the gimmick to get audiences in the theatre. The style of romantic drama really hit home for me because it followed so closely after Scapin. For a while now I have been in the mindset of over the top and exaggerated emotions and actions. As I have said before, romantic drama is not appropriate for everything. I think if any type of theatre were to adopt romantic drama, it would have to be very stylized and unique--completely set apart from all other types of drama just as Commedia and melodrama are.