Restoration Comedy

By Turaab Jaaferi
What is Restoration Comedy?
- Form of English comedy
- Originated in Molière’s “Les Precieuses Ridicules” in 1658
- Intended for the upper class

(Beckson) (“John Vanbrugh.”)

“William Shakespeare, His Life, Works and Influence.”

Oscar Wilde William Shakespeare John Vanbrugh

The Restoration Period (1660 - 1710)
- End of the Republican Rule (1649 - 1660)
- Known as the years of Merry Monrach’s reign
- This period had the first professional female
playwright, Aphra Behn
The Theatres
● Theatres were expensive, mainly a rich audience
● Seatings showed the huge social divide between the rich and the poor

(Maybank) (Ackermann)
The Plot
Would include a lot of witty dialogues and sexual
innuendos
Relatable to the audience as the characters were
similar to the audience members
Mocked the audience
The Characters
Characters were as similar to the audience members
The Rake -
● Witty, carefree and seductive
● Always concerned about his appearance and clothing

Women were officially allowed to perform in theatres

Movement
Extremely eye-catching
Set poses and movements to express emotions (and
for the audience to easily identify the characters)
Facial expressions were avoided
The Fop
“One who is foolishly
attentive to and vain of
his appearance, dress
or manners”.
“Love's Last Shift.”
Tries hard to fit into the upper
classes of society
“Colley Cibber depicted in the role of
Lord Foppington in John Vanbrugh's
The Relapse, the sequel to Love's Last
Shift”
Commedia Dell’arte
● Easily recognisable
● But of the joke
● Make up
● Very flashy
How it influenced me
It has bettered my comedic timing

Given me ideas for jokes

Made me a better risk taker

Increases my confidence to capture the audience’s attention

My annual day performances were also similar to this as I had to be very ‘big’
with my movements
Work Cited
Maybank, Diane. “An Introduction to Restoration Comedy.” The British Library, The British Library, 17 May 2018,
https://www.bl.uk/restoration-18th-century-literature/articles/an-introduction-to-restoration-comedy.

Ackermann, Rudolph, et al. “Illustration of Covent Garden Theatre.” The British Library, The British Library, 11 Apr. 2014,
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/illustration-of-covent-garden-theatre.

Beckson, Karl. “Oscar Wilde.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 11 Nov. 2019,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Wilde.

“William Shakespeare, His Life, Works and Influence.” William Shakespeare: 20 Facts, 37 Plays, 375 Poems, 100 Quotes & Bio,
https://www.williamshakespeare.net/.

“John Vanbrugh.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Oct. 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vanbrugh.

“Love's Last Shift.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Nov. 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love's_Last_Shift.

Work Cited
“Innamorati.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Oct. 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innamorati.

Lombardi, Esther. “What You Should Know About the Restoration Comedy.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 2 May 2019,
https://www.thoughtco.com/game-of-love-william-mycherly-735165.

“Restoration Literature Characteristics.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008,

https://www.shmoop.com/restoration-literature/characteristics.html.

“Politics, Literary Culture, & Theatrical Media in London: 1625-1725: Restoration Theatre.” Politics, Literary Culture, & Theatrical
Media in London: 1625-1725 | Restoration Theatre,
http://www.london.umb.edu/index.php/entry_detail/restoration_theatre/theatre_intro/.

“What Is Comedy of Manners: Themes, Characteristics, Examples.” Pediaa.Com, 2 Oct. 2016,

https://pediaa.com/what-is-comedy-of-manners/.
Work Cited
Kumar, Jeevan. “The Restoration Comedy.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 4 Sept. 2016,
https://www.slideshare.net/JeevanKumar53/the-restoration-comedy-65678275.

“Comedy of Manners.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com, https://www.enotes.com/topics/comedy-manners.

“History - Charles II.” BBC, BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/charles_ii_king.shtml.

Hale, Cher. “How Did Italy's Commedia Dell'Arte Shape the Art of Comedy?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 4 July 2019,
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-commedia-dellarte-4040385.

Cash, Justin. “Comedy of Manners.” The Drama Teacher, https://thedramateacher.com/comedy-of-manners/#comments.

“Comedy of Manners.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 13 Mar. 2018,

https://www.britannica.com/art/comedy-of-manners.
Work Cited
“Literature.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com,
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/has-anybody-read-pathedy-manners-can-you-give-me-132109.

“An Introduction to Restoration Comedy.” The British Library, The British Library, 17 May 2018,
https://www.bl.uk/restoration-18th-century-literature/articles/an-introduction-to-restoration-comedy.
Bibliography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yoB7RAE2Eg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqvZMBK-ovs

http://thurrock100.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/commedia-characters-s
m.jpg