The Theatre Industry in Nineteenth-Century France

This 1993 book explores the history of French theatre in the nineteenth century.

Frederic William John Hemmings (Author)

9780521441421, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 August 1993

336 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.66 kg

"...an invaluable resource for those who wish to do further work in the unpublished archives of...the various national and commercial theaters. Scholars taking a more literary approach to the theater will also find much of interest in these pages." Jeffrey S. Ravel, Theatre Survey

This 1993 book explores the history of French theatre in the nineteenth century through its special role as an organized popular entertainment. Traditionally regarded as an elite art form, in post-Revolutionary France the stage began to be seen as an industry like any other and the theatre became one of the few areas of employment where women were in demand as much as men. The increasingly commercial ethos dominating the stage led to the mass production of plays with audience appeal, resulting in an inevitable dilution of literary standards. In this lively account, Hemmings examines how the theatre world flourished and evolved, and reveals such matters as the difficult life of the actress, salaries and contracts, and the profession of the playwright.

Chronology
Introduction
Part I. The Audiences: 1. Going to the theatre in the nineteenth century
2. The auditorium
3. Performance times - intervals - annual closures
4. First nights and previews
5. Order and disorder in the theatres
6. Applause and censure
7. The claque
8. Working-class audiences
Part II. The Acting Profession: 9. A pariah profession
10. Social origins
11. Training for the stage
12. Salaries and contracts
13. The difficult life of the actress
14. Acting standards
Part III. The Profession of Playwright: 15. The profession is organised
16. The closed shop
17. From acceptance to performance
Notes
Bibliography
Guide to further reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Theatre studies [AN]