Restoration Drama

Webquest

Your quest is to: Create a Playbill

INTRODUCTION:

After our discussion in class, you know a few facts about Restoration Drama. You are now going to begin researching specific information about Restoration Drama to include in a playbill.

• What is a playbill? A playbill is basically a program that includes information about a live drama/theatre production. Here are some examples of actual playbills used in theatres:

http://asups.ups.edu/clubs/fts/website/asb/2005/playbills.htm

• Follow each step below, using the links to gather the necessary information. WRITE DOWN ALL OF WEB ADDRESSES YOU CONSULT AS YOU GO (you will use them for your webliography at the end).

RESEARCH:

Historical background

1. Read from the following website and summarize in a paragraph: how, when and where restoration drama came about.

http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/restoration_drama_001.html

Playwrights

2. The site you just visited also lists several playwrights (authors of plays) from the restoration period. Using the links below, find information about your playwright and write a 1-3 paragraph biography about him/her (in your own words).

William Wycherley:

http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc95.html

John Dryden:

http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc76.html

http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/dryden001.html

William Congreve:

http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc58.html

http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/congreve001.html

Aphra Behn:

http://www.lit-arts.net/Behn/begin-ab.htm

http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc17.htm

http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=1439&back=%2Fguided_tours%2Fdrama_tour%2Frenaissance%2Frestoration.php%3F

George Farquar

http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=1437&back=%2Fguided_tours%2Fdrama_tour%2Frenaissance%2Frestoration.php%3F

Plays

3. Once you have chosen your playwright, choose one of his/her plays. From the information you find about the play, you will:

a) Write a 1-3 paragraph synopsis (summary) of the plot.

b) Note the year that is was written or first performed

c) Note the theatre in which it was first staged

It is your job to figure out which of the titles belong to your playwright.

The Country Wife http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=2027&back=%2Fguided_tours%2Fdrama_tour%2Frenaissance%2Frestoration.php%3F

The Beaux Strategem

http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=1092&back=%2Fguided_tours%2Fdrama_tour%2Frenaissance%2Frestoration_actors.php%3F

The Way of the World

http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmWayWorld07.asp

http://web.utk.edu/~misty/Waysummary.html

The Rover

http://www.enotes.com/rover/15648

Marriage A-la-Mode

http://people.stu.ca/~gtnrt/play1.htm

All for Love

http://people.stu.ca/~gtmhp/play1.htm

Theatres

4. Visit the sites below to find the theatre where your chosen play was first performed. This will help you to complete #3.

http://web.nwe.ufl.edu/~esull/restoration/index.htm

http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/default.php?ter_id=21

http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=1581&back=%2Fguided_tours%2Fdrama_tour%2Frenaissance%2Frestoration.php%3F

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/academic/english/murray/Restoration/Theatres/Theatres.html

Images

5. You want your playbill cover and design to be interesting. Below are a few links with images that you may want to use. Some of the previous site you visited also have nice images.

http://web.nwe.ufl.edu/~esull/restoration/index.htm

http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/guided_tours/drama_tour/renaissance/restoration.php

Webliography

6. Create a webliography, citing all of the sources you have consulted using “citation maker.”

http://oslis.k12.or.us/citeintro/nof_citesession.php?Grd=Sec&sessionid=ac591a4ee8d5d00d09d71e57f904ba81

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CRITERIA FOR PLAYBILL:

Now that you have collected all of the necessary information, you will begin creating your playbill. Your playbill must include:

• Cover design
• Title of the play
• The year it was written or first performed
• Playwright biography: one to three paragraphs “about the playwright”
• 1-3 paragraph synopsis (summary) of the play in your own words
• List of sources (webliography)
• The name of the theatre in which it was performed

The format will be as follows:

• Written portions should be typed.
• Headings can be typed or handwritten.
• Design can be freehand, cut and paste, collage or computer generated.
• The design must include color.
• Paper is standard 8.5” x 11” folded in half.
• The placement of the information is up to you, but it should be “user-friendly” (Ms. Van Dreal has several examples that you can look at for ideas)

SCORING GUIDE FOR PLAYBILL:

Cover design (10)

Title of play (1)

Name of playwright (1)

Playwright bio (5)

Synopsis of play (5)

Name of theatre (1)

Year written or performed (1)

Creativity and neatness (10)

(color, lettering, overall presentation)

Correct paper size and format (1)

Sources (5)

TOTAL POINTS: 40