Theatre History II Module 2 David A McTier, PhD

1. 19th Century Theatre
Melodrama
Variety Entertainments

2. Variety
Entertainments

3. Sample Bill

5. The Liliputians

6. FARCE: Evangeline (1880)

7. The Black Crook

8. Pantomime

9. Wild West Shows

10. FOLLIES (1910)

11. VAUDEVILLE

12. Fanchon and Marco Vaudeville Production

13. Vaudeville Bill

14. VAUDEVILLE

15. MINSTREL SHOW: Virginia Minstrels

16. Billy Van, Minstrel

17. James H.
Budworth in
Blackface

18. George L. Wade, Mistrel

19. Stock Characters in Minstrel Shows

20. English Minstrel Troupe

21. Morton Theatre: Athens, Georgia

22. MINSTREL SHOWS: Al Jolson on right

24. Tableaux Vivants

25. Daguerre and Dioramas

26. Atlanta Cyclorama

27. MELODRAMA

28. MELODRAMA
“melody drama” = musical underscore
always a happy ending = idealized
poetic justice: virtue is rewarded; vice punished
good guys vs. bad guy(s) - villain
good guy usually saves beautiful woman
easy to identify the good and the bad
lots of spectacle: chase scenes, explosions
incorporates latest technology and special effects

29. Nautical Melodrama at Sadlers’ Wells

30. Gothic Melodrama

31. Villain

32. Blue Jeans

33. May Blossom

34. Only A Woman’s Heart

38. Dion Boucicault

39. Dion Boucicault as
Nena Sahib, 1858

40. Scene from Boucicault’s The Corsican Brothers

41. The Octoroon by Boucicault, Opening Scene
http://www.wayneturney.20m.com/octoroon.htm

42. Ticket-of-Leave Man at the Olympic, 1863

43. James O’Neill and
The Count of
Monte Cristo

44. MELODRAMA: Edwin Booth, Actor

45. From Daly’s Under the Gaslight, 1867
Laura. O, Heavens! he will be murdered before my eyes! How can I aid him?
Snorkey. Who's that?
Laura. It is I. Do you not know my voice?
Snorkey. That I do; but I almost thought I was dead, and it was an angel's. Where are you?
Laura. In the station.
Snorkey. I can't see you, but I can hear you. Listen to me, Miss, for I've got only a few minutes to live.
Laura. (Shaking door.) God help me? I cannot aid you.
Snorkey. Never mind me, Miss. I might as well die now, and here, as at any other time. I'm not afraid: I've
seen death in almost every shape, and none of them scare me; but, for the sake of those you love, I would
live. Do you hear me?
Laura. Yes! yes!
Snorkey. They are on the way to your cottage--Byke and Judas--to rob and murder.
Laura. (In agony.) O, I must get out! (Shakes window bars.) What shall I do?
Snorkey. Can you burst the door?
Laura. It is locked fast.
Snorkey. Is there nothing in there? --no hammer?--no crowbar?
Laura. Nothing! (Faint steam whistle is heard in the distance.) O, heavens! The train! (Paralysed for an
instant.) The axe!!!
Snorkey. Cut the woodwork! Don't mind the lock--cut round it! How my neck tingles! (A blow at the door is
heard.) Courage! (Another.) Courage! (The steam whistle heard again--nearer, and rumble of train on track.
Another blow.) That's a true woman! Courage! (Noise of locomotive heard--with whistle. A last blow; the door
swings open, mutilated--the lock hanging--and Laura appears, axe in hand.)
Snorkey. Here--quick! (She runs and unfastens him. The locomotive lights glare on scene.) Victory! Saved!
Hooray! (Laura leans exhausted against switch.) And these are the women who ain't to have a vote!
(As Laura takes his head from the track, the train of cars rushes past with roar and whistle from L. to R.H.)

46. Uncle Tom’s Cabin