The various views/resources I have gathered for this play are very much relevant to how someone would be placed into the world of the play. The macro, or big picture, views that I have found for this play focus on the Restoration, events, and politics built in behind this play that go on before and during the time this play is set. The micro, or small picture, views used in this blog are to show the various things that are significantly relevant to the play’s world itself.
Macro Views
Resource #1 talks about the Restoration period in England itself and the placement of King Charles II on the throne. This resource utilizes the basic knowledge that a director would need going into a production meeting to answer questions about the history of the Interregnum and the Restoration as England is constantly being changed in the 1660s with the advent of theatre rising back to its original status.
This also leads into resource #2 which is about Charles II specifically. Although he is not in this play, he does have a significant impact on the way this show is done because of the way England was before he was in power and after he was put in power. He is a significant figure affecting both the macro and micro views in this blog. I placed him in macro because he affects so much more than just the world of this play and has a great deal of influence on the world of theatre during the restoration.
Resource #3 involves politics and the way England is viewed during this time. Political figures, such as the Earl of Rochester, in this play, would know this information and be affected by it as well as having influence, however small, on the King.
Resource #4 talks about the monetary system in place and the average cost of living for the average citizen of England during the 1660s. Although there is only a couple of brief sections that are relevant and useful to this play, I find it extremely helpful to know how much the average man needed to live off of because it would help a designer understand the rottenness in which the women of this play lived.
#5 is a published piece that would greatly helper a set designer and a scenic artist to understand the architecture from the early to late seventeenth century in England and Europe. It may influence and make the design much more accurate during the process.
#6 is more about politics. Every square inch of England was affected by the constant changes in power from one ruler to the next. The article linked describes most of the laws Charles II put in place during his initial reign in England.
#7 is a comparison of the religious establishment in England before and after the establish of Charles II as monarch. This view and article would greatly help an actor with he/she character’s religious convictions.
#8 is something I would give to the actors. It would help them understand what England was coming out of. It would also give a better background to the character of Mrs Farley.
#9 is similar to resource #4. The value of money during the 1660s and the differences in today’s monetary system England has versus the old system that was used. In addition, slang terms are given that would give actors an understanding of how much they are paying or being paid when there those references in the play.
#10 answers many basic questions that a director or designer might ask during a production meeting and would be very useful to the world of theatre during the 1660s.
Micro Views
Resource #1 is very helpful in determining what types of plays would have been performed in the theatre venues that the characters are in.
#2 speaks about the composer Matthew Locke and his life. It is something that the characters in the play, particularly Otway and the Earl of Rochester, would have heard during that time. A link is also found in the Pics and Sounds portion of this blog.
#3 are lists of political plays that help the actors understand the characters view and understanding of politics during that time.
#4 talks about the return of sexual comedy and the premiere of The Country Wife which is something that Nell Gwynn would have been apart of during her time as an actress.
#5 is about the diary of Samuel Pepys and the places that Nell Gwynn may have worked before and during her time as an actress.
#6 explains who Mrs. Betterton is. It is also from the diary of Pepys.
#7 explains and talks about the educational background and other information that the Earl of Rochester would know during this time. The article talks about the Earl directly.
#8 is an article about the theatre critic, Jeremy Collier, from that time. It criticizes the use of women on stage and the desire for the older traditions of the theatre.
#9 is an article speaking about the survival rate of infants during the time of the play. This information would help an actor playing Mrs Farley since she does become pregnant in the show.
#10 is a published piece on the values women had during the 1660s. It also compares the values of men and women during that time as well. It would greatly help an actor understand their character much more.
All of the information above and is found in other blog posts with links to the articles and information. It is all entirely relevant to a designer, director or actor in helping to understand the characters and the world that the play is set.
