English Restoration
Shortly after the glory days of Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre, a Puritanical movement led by Oliver Cromwell gained control of Parliament Cromwell ethics did not extend to cover the moral extravagance of theatre. Under the guise of public health and safety, Parliament ordered the closing of all theatres on September 2, 1642 Such dirty public areas were the perfect breeding ground for the spreading of plague. Actors were left with two options, join Charles I in the civil war against Cromwell, or defy the law and continue performing. Then, in 1649, Charles lost his head, establishing the new Commonwealth. In 1653, Cromwell disbanded Parliament and named himself Lord High Protector. During these day of political chaos, a new underground theater evolved. This new theatre was an extremely risky venture. Any actor caught performing would be imprisoned. Box office receipts would be confiscated for the Commonwealth. Enormous fines would be levied against any daring to sit in an audience. Entire playhouses would be destroyed, their interiors gutted or exteriors burned. Theatre faced extinction. It became an obsequious art, catering to Cromwell's strict moral code. Killigrew would survive, and eventually form the T
The audience of the restoration was upper class. Theatre was expensive, and the nobles could pay the price. The plays were oriented toward this specific audience, so the absence of lower classes is not surprising. The theatre became a place to be seen, and these people loved nothing more then showing off their opulence. The plays had devolved into bawdy, noisy events, the audience usually creating more drama then the actors. All in all, though, it was a happy time, a time when the theatre prospered. It is in the Restoration Comedy, however, that the audience got a true picture of themselves. This world of class and manners is peopled by stock characters. The rake, the fop, the country gentleman, bitter ex-mistresses, randy young men, and witty young women are all present in most Restoration comedies. They exist in a world of debauchery covered with a veneer of decorum. The language is sharp and witty, the story lines multiple and convoluted, combining to hilariously cynical effect. Later to be condemned for its flagrant lack of morals, restoration comedy remains a popular form of entertainment. Theatre is a constantly evolving entity. It cannot be destroyed, as Cromwell wished, but it also cannot run wild for long. It is a fo
Some common words found in the essay are:
Restoration Comedy, Parliament Cromwell, William Mary, Comedy Manners, Commonwealth Enormous, England Commonwealth, Comedy Congreve, Lord Protector, Theatre Royal, Siege Rhodes, restoration comedy, upper class, strict moral, picture themselves,
Approximate Word count = 834
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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