Shakespeare's Victorian Stage: Performing History in the Theatre of Charles KeanThis book explores the revivals of Shakespeare's history plays during the Victorian period, as staged by the famous actor-manager Charles Kean. Between 1852 and 1859, Kean produced celebrated productions of Henry V, Henry VIII, King John, Macbeth and Richard II, renowned for their unprecendented attention to antiquarian detail in sets, costumes, and properties (many of which are shown in the book's illustrations). These productions provided audiences with an unparalleled opportunity to participate in the Victorian obsession with history, especially of the medieval period. Using valuable primary sources, including promptbooks, scenic designs, costume sketches and contemporary reviews, Richard Schoch places mid-Victorian attitudes towards the theatre in the context of major intellectual and political movements of the age. The book will be of interest to scholars and students of theatre history, Shakespeare studies and Victorian culture. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The prince of theatrical antiquaries | 22 |
the rise of theatrical historicism | 55 |
the poetics of performing history | 81 |
medievalism and nationhood on the midVictorian stage | 113 |
the Muse that got away | 141 |
Getting away from everything feels good | 183 |
Bibliography | 189 |
| 196 | |
| 204 | |
Other editions - View all
Shakespeare's Victorian Stage: Performing History in the Theatre of Charles Kean Richard W. Schoch No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
acting actor actor-manager actor-manager's antiquarian antiquarian revivals antiquaries appear audience Bann British Cambridge University Press Capon's century Charles Kean Charles Kean's production Chorus chronicle plays claim Cole contemporary Corsican Brothers costumes Covent Garden critical cultural dramatic Drury Lane Elizabethan Ellen Kean England English essay Folger Shakespeare Library Folger Y.c. Fraser's Magazine Henry VIII historians historical consciousness historical representation historicist historiographical Illustrated London J. R. Planché John Philip Kemble Kean banquet Kean's antiquarian Kean's Henry Kean's revival Kean's Richard Kean's Shakespearean revivals King John Literary Gazette Macbeth Macready magic medieval past mid-Victorian theatre Middle Ages mise-en-scène nineteenth nineteenth-century theatre nonetheless painting pictorial Planché playbill political precisely Princess's Theatre production of Henry promptbook Queen realization Richard II royal scene scenery scenic Shakespeare's history plays social spectacle spectators Theatre Museum theatre of Charles theatre's theatrical historicism Theatrical Journal theatrical performance tion Victorian theatre Westminster Review Winter's Tale York