Get Outside and Have a (Mystery) Play: Crash Course Theater #10

Summary

In this episode of Crash Course Theater, Mike Rugnetta explores the evolution of medieval theater, focusing on mystery plays, morality plays, and cycle plays. He delves into the history of these religious performances, from their origins in liturgical drama to their secular transformation with the rise of guilds and pageant wagons. Using 'The Second Shepherd’s Play' as a key example, Rugnetta highlights the blend of humor, drama, and religious themes. The video also touches on the lasting impact of these medieval forms, which influenced later theater, including the works of Shakespeare, and discusses the decline of cycle plays during the Protestant Reformation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mystery and morality plays were key forms of theater during the late Middle Ages, blending religious and secular elements.
• 😀 These plays were often chaotic, blending comedy, drama, and scripture, with some memorable moments like jokes about baby-eating.
• 😀 The mystery plays depicted stories from the Bible and were performed by trade and craft guilds, leading to the term 'mystery' plays, as 'mystery' referred to a trade or craft.
• 😀 The cycle plays were ambitious productions, showcasing the entire history of Christianity, from Creation to the Last Judgment, performed over multiple days.
• 😀 The performances of cycle plays often took place on pageant wagons, which moved through towns, and were amateur productions involving local townspeople and guild members.
• 😀 The Wakefield Master’s 'The Second Shepherd’s Play' is a well-loved example of a cycle play, blending comedy and Bible story elements, with a humorous twist involving sheep-stealing.
• 😀 Early medieval theater evolved from liturgical drama, which began inside churches and later moved outdoors due to the size of the churches and the growing popularity of drama.
• 😀 Despite a ban from Pope Innocent III on clergy performing plays in public, secular theater flourished in the 13th century, with a shift towards non-clerical performances.
• 😀 Morality plays like 'Everyman' emerged during this period, conveying messages about the inevitability of death and the importance of good deeds.
• 😀 The end of cycle plays came with the Protestant Reformation, as Protestant reformers banned religious dramas due to their perceived conflict with Protestant values.
• 😀 Medieval drama remains influential today, with plays like 'Everyman' still performed annually, showing the enduring legacy of these medieval forms.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video script?

The video script primarily focuses on the theater of the late Middle Ages, specifically discussing mystery plays, morality plays, and their impact on the development of European theater.

How are mystery plays and morality plays different from modern theatrical works?

Mystery and morality plays are episodic, often basic in structure, and mix comedy, drama, and scripture. They were created by communities and were rooted in religious themes, unlike modern theater, which is more focused on secular or diverse subjects.

What role did towns play in the production of mystery plays?

Towns were integral to the creation and performance of mystery plays. Entire communities participated in producing the plays, often involving guilds who contributed by creating costumes, sets, and performing the plays, creating a collective theatrical experience.

How did the movement of theater from churches to outdoor settings come about?

The move from churches to outdoor settings occurred because medieval Gothic churches were too small to contain the grandeur and majesty that religious drama required. This led to the performance of liturgical drama outside, especially after Pope Innocent III banned clergy from performing plays in public in 1210.

What were cycle plays, and why were they significant?

Cycle plays were a genre of medieval drama that depicted the entire Christian history, from creation to the death and resurrection of Christ. They were significant because they represented the intersection of religious and community life and were performed by guilds, making them a central part of medieval cultural expression.

What is the connection between the term 'mystery' and mystery plays?

The term 'mystery' in mystery plays refers to a trade or craft, such as carpentry or baking. The plays themselves were not 'mysteries' in the modern sense of crime dramas, but rather focused on religious themes with guilds often responsible for performing specific biblical stories related to their trade.

Why were cycle plays eventually banned?

Cycle plays were banned during the English Reformation due to their association with Catholicism. Protestant reformers opposed the mixing of drama and religion, especially with the representation of biblical stories in such a visual and public way, which was seen as contrary to their religious beliefs.

How does 'The Second Shepherd’s Play' blend comedy and religion?

'The Second Shepherd’s Play' blends comedy and religion by mixing serious biblical themes with humor and contemporary references. For instance, the shepherds’ comic discussions about their everyday struggles intersect with the religious story of the birth of Christ, making the play both entertaining and a celebration of Christian themes.

What was the role of the 'pageant wagons' in mystery plays?

Pageant wagons were large, movable carts used to transport the sets, costumes, and actors for mystery plays. These carts were trundled through the town, stopping at various locations to perform, making theater accessible to a wider audience and allowing for multiple plays to be staged over a series of days.

What are morality plays, and how did they differ from cycle plays?

Morality plays were secular plays that focused on teaching moral lessons, usually highlighting the consequences of living a virtuous or sinful life. Unlike cycle plays, which were religious and often based on biblical stories, morality plays were centered around personal conduct and salvation, such as in the famous play 'Everyman'.