THE MABINI ACADEMY

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

Quarter Western Classical Play

4 And Operas

Ancient Greek Theater

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:

1. Identify selected theatrical forms from different art periods.
2. Identify the elements and principles of arts as manifested in
Western Classical plays and opera.
3. Design the visual elements and components of the selected Western
Classical plays and opera through costumes, props, etc.

History of Ancient Greek Theater

Ancient Greek theater started as religious rituals. It began specifically
in Thrace, where a cult venerated Dionysus—the God of procreation and
fertility. The Dionysians paid tribute to their God through rites that may have
included drinking intoxicating liquor, participating in orgies, or sacrificing
animals. It is widely believed that one of the cult’s most controversial
practices was the wild, trance-like dancing and uninhibited showing of
emotions. This created ecstasies (singular: ecstasy), an altered state in which
a person transcends normal consciousness. This religious concept was
important to ancient Greeks, who would see and experience theater to purify
or purge powerful emotions (catharsis).

The Dionysians were not only known for their spontaneous revelries,
but they were also credited as the first to create a more formally structured
drama. The Dionysian priest Thespis (stage actors today are called thespians)
presented an original element, which may have ushered the birth of Western

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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

theater, wherein the actor and the chorus are having a dialogue with each
other. In choral form, the actor and the chorus sang and danced the colorful
stories of Greek mythology. With this development, the ancient Greeks (e.g.,
Aristophanes, Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus) were able to create tragedies,
comedies, and satyric dramas. These works are still considered today as
among the greatest plays ever written.

The ancient Greeks’ love for entertainment brought theater to new heights.
They staged fascinating stories with drama, dance, and music to explore their
world and investigate their humanity.

Tragedy, Comedy, and Satiric Drama

In Poetics, Aristotle defines tragedy as an imitation through action
rather than narration of a serious, complete, and ample action. Here are
some of the definitions of tragedy.

• A tragic play imitates significant actions and emotions—life itself.

• There should be actions, which can be delivered through dialogic parts.
• An important part of the tragedy is the orderly arrangement of
incidents—it should have a beginning, a middle, and an ending.
• The language must have rhythm, instrumental melody, and song; vulgar
language must be avoided.
• The spectators should experience a release of powerful emotions.

Some of the surviving Greek tragedies are The Persians (472 BCE) by
Aeschylus, Antigone (442 BCE) and Oedipus Rex (c. 430 BCE) by Sophocles,
and Medea (431 BCE) by Euripides.

The word comedy was derived from the word Comus, which is the
Greek god of laughter, joke, and revelry. He was honored with an elaborate
ritual parade where the peasants wandered around the fields brandishing
phallus-shaped objects and holding torches. In this parade, they sang hymns
with vulgar lyrics and scathing language. Thus, early comedies consisted of
mocking and loose lyrics. Performers ridiculed situations and people and
criticized wickedness, greed, and corruption prevalent in Greek society. The
goal was to show audience the values of their ancestors and to convey the

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 THE MABINI ACADEMY
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

message of returning to old tradition. There are only 11

surviving comedies written by Aristophanes, and some of
these are The Frogs (405 BCE), Lysistrata (411 BCE), and
The Clouds (423 BCE)

A satyric drama is a form of tragicomedy that is

lighter than a tragedy and heavier than a comedy—
comparable in spirit to a vulgar satire or lampoon. Featuring
a chorus of satyrs, the stories were inspired by Greek Poster for a production
mythology. Unabashed sexuality (phallic props were of Lysistrata, Orange
Coast College (Orange
commonly used), sight gags, pranks, mock drunkenness, Country CA), 2009
and general revelry characterized these plays. The only
satiric drama that has been fully saved is Cyclops (c. 408 BCE) by Euripides.
However, papyrus discoveries have shown important fragments of other
satyric dramas.

Parts of an Ancient Greek Theater

Plays were a crucial part in many
religious festivals in ancient Greece, so it is not
surprising that nearly all Greek cities had a
theater. These open-air theaters, usually built on
hillsides, could accommodate over 18 000
spectators. They were built in a half-circle form
and had rows of tiered stone seating around
them. A theater was often divided into four
separate areas: (1) the orchestra, (2) the
theatron, (3) the parodos, and (4) the skene.

The orchestra was the space where the chorus would sing and dance.
In the early years, the chorus performed on hard earth. Later, orchestras
were covered with marble and other flooring. Although they are usually
believed to have been circular, others have argued that they were rectangular
in shape. An altar dedicated to Greek gods was usually found at the center of
these orchestras.

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 THE MABINI ACADEMY
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

Typically, the theatron, the area where the spectators were seated,
was constructed on a hillside overlooking the orchestra. The design of these
stone seats, tiered and in a semicircle, enabled the audience to clearly see the
actors and chorus on the orchestra. In addition, its design allowed for the
efficient amplification of sound so that every spectator could hear the
performers

The parodos, a pathway on both sides of the orchestra, divided the

orchestra and the theatron. These passageways were used by the actors and
chorus to enter and exit the orchestra, as well as by the audience

The skene (scene building) was the structure directly behind the
orchestra. This area served as a changing room for the actors and other
performers. The skene was also decorated to represent a palace, a temple, or
a house where the play was set. It also had a set of doors used by the actors
to enter and exit the orchestra

Elements
Movement, gesture, and dance. The main actors in ancient Greek
theater could not understate their acting given the large performance space.
The actors as well as the chorus had to speak loudly, and their gestures had to
be big so that every viewer could hear what was being said and see what was
going on. Actors often used pantomime instead of props to indicate objects.
They also danced to the music incorporated in the performance. Facial
expression was not that important in ancient Greek theater because actors
always wore masks. Movements and gestures executed in unison added
power to the performance.

Sound and music. Ancient Greek theater is

more similar to opera than modern plays. In fact, the
first operas were produced to revive Greek drama.
Hence, chant, music, and dance were important in
Greek theater. The main actors and the chorus
delivered verses that were set to instrumental
accompaniment. In Greek theater, music embodied
pathos (a quality that sadness or pity) or the sensation
Dioskourides of Samos, a
mosaic depicting a scene
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 THE MABINI ACADEMY
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

or feeling of what it is to be human. Representing the

spirit of their god Dionysus, pathos is the opposite of logos, which refers to
the written or spoken words and everything that is rational or logical. Pathos
was inhibited in the beginning, but it always dominated in the end, in the
same way that nature wins over logic or reason

Costume. Costume was crucial in every production because it

determined the gender, social status, or motivations of the characters. Actors
used body painting in early productions. Eventually, they began using animal
feathers and skins as costume. They also wore garments such as chlaina
(overgarment), peplos (cloak), chiton (tunic or robe), kothurnus (short lace-up
boots), and chlamys (short cloak). Actors in ancient Greek theater were
always men, even though they portrayed female characters. These male
actors wore a progastreda on the belly and prosterneda on the chest (used to
mimic female breasts).

Mask. The actors and members of the chorus in

ancient Greek theater used masks. This practice originated
from the ancient cult of Dionysus. The main actors wore
masks that were different from those of the chorus.
Usually, the masks used by chorus members were similar
to one another. Because a production often featured only
one to three actors, each actor had to use different masks
to portray more roles. In addition, because all the actors Greek tragedy chorus masks
by Alyssa Ravenwoo
had to be men, the mask allowed male actors to portray
female characters. These masks were usually made of leather, wood, or linen;
some had human or animal hair on them. They were made using a stone or
marble as a mold.

Makeup. The Dionysian priest and actor Thespis was the first to use
theatrical makeup. He wanted to stand out from the chorus, so he painted his
face with red and white paint that contained poisonous chemicals, such as
mercuric sulfide and white lead. Some scholars argue that the use of these
lethal chemicals was discontinued in Greek theater because these were used
to express emotions.

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 THE MABINI ACADEMY
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

Structure of Greek Tragedy and Comedy

A tragedy often starts with a prologue that was delivered by one or
two actors before the entrance of the members of the chorus. In the
prologue, the actors give the audience the mythological or historical
background needed to understand the events of the drama. This is followed
by the parodos, wherein members of the chorus appear, sing, and dance.
Then scenes alternate between sung and spoken sections. When the scene
ends, leading characters often exit the orchestra and members of the chorus
begin dancing and singing a choral ode, the stasimon, which puts the scene
into a larger mythological framework. Episodes and stasima (singular:
stasimon) alternate until the final scene or the exodus. In this section, the
chorus sings a processional song and exits the orchestra. This song usually
gives some wise words about the play.

As in a tragedy, a comedy starts with a prologue and a parodos, which

is followed by an agon or contest, in which two characters debate an issue.
This section usually ends with choral songs. After the leading actors have
exited the orchestra, members of the chorus remove their masks, step out of
character, and talk to the viewers (parabasis or coming forward). The leader
of the chorus chants about an important issue, and he usually ends it with a
tongue twister. The chorus then sings an ode addressed to a god (sung by half
of the chorus), an advisory chant or epirrhema about current issues (chanted
by the leader of the members who sung the ode), an answering ode or
antode (sung by the other half of the chorus), and an answering chant or
antepirrhema (chanted by the leader of the members who sang the antode).
The exode has a celebratory mood.

Famous Greek Plays

• Oedipus Rex by Sophocles – This play follows a cursed
family whose members try to escape their fate. Oedipus, the
main character, is told by an oracle that he will kill his father
and sleep with his mother.

 Prometheus Bound (usually attributed to Aeschylus) –

This is based on the myth of the Titan Prometheus who Poster for Sining-Lahi
Polyrepertory’s (PUP)
production of Medea, 2015
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 THE MABINI ACADEMY
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

was punished by Zeus for introducing fire to mankind.

 Antigone by Sophocles – This is a morality tale against pride, focusing on

the story of the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, his mother.

• Medea by Euripides – This play, featuring Medea and Jason, is considered

by many as an early feminist text. In addition to the issue of misogyny, it
also touches on issues that are still relevant today—love, passion,
betrayal, vengeance, racism, and justice.

 Lysistrata by Aristophanes – This comedy about the

Peloponnesian War has more than entertainment value;
it also exposes the sexual politics that dominated the
patriarchal society of ancient Greece.

Influences
The audience. The idea that the main character of a play must be
connected to the audience was a major contribution of Greek theater to the
Western theatrical tradition. This idea has become the bedrock of our
conventional expectation concerning the relationship between the action of
the protagonist and the experience of the audience, from the plays of
Shakespeare to those of Arthur Miller.

The text. The Western theatrical tradition created by Shakespeare

owes a huge debt to the Greeks on this requirement of verse in drama.
Though modern theatrical scripts don’t often include the use of verse,
modern sensibility is still drawn to Aristotle’s notion of heightened language.
Today, a musical also preserves the ancient Greek use of verse put to song.

The actors. Greek theater began with the idea that the performance
was a group event whose players were known as the chorus, and their job
was simply to narrate the story. Over time, the first actor emerged as the
protagonist to speak solo lines, and then more “characters” stepped forward.
These characters began to engage in conversation, or “dialogue,” to enact
rather than narrate the story. Thus, the idea that the actors don’t simply tell a
story but inhabit the characters and speak dialogue is an invention of Greek

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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MUSIC, ARTS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 9
QUARTER 4: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS AND OPERAS

theater.

The theater. Contemporary theater has carried on the same kind of

structure as the ancient Greek theater. Viewers surround the stage in a
semicircle, in curving tiers, so people in higher positions can see the
performers. The actors made their entrances and exits from a skene, a term
that gave rise to the Western concept of scene or scenery. By the time of
Sophocles, there were actual painted backdrops to enhance the unchanging
environment provided by the skene for each performance. The entrance of
the gods was staged by the effect of lowering the actor from the top of the
skene, so that he flew above the stage. These simple devices are still
employed today and continue to be tested and developed.

Type of plays. Ancient Greek theater has three types of plays: (1)
comedy, (2) tragedy, and (3) satire. These types of plays are still used in
contemporary theater

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