“Restoration Women: Reassessment of identity and status through theatre”

“The dramas laws the dramas patrons give” illustrates the relationship between theatre and the people of the Restoration period (Elwin 5). As theatre of this era sheds light on the newly changing social normal and self-identification the reaction of the audience sheds insight back onto theatre itself. The concept of sex and sexuality is confronted and analyzed as women take the stage for the first time. The rapidly changing constructs of women are illustrated on stage and is widely received by rowdy and enthusiastic audiences. Theatre is used not only to regulate gender and sexuality but puts it on display for society to understand how the views on women’s private and public lives are changing and how sexuality is being used to ignite professional opportunities and garner interest in the theatre. Three major parts of the restoration period will be examined in order to reveal the importance of theatre for women and their right to their sexuality. The social construct of theatre going itself including the social workings of women in the audience, the duality of an actresses and stage’s role in representing societal views on sex and Aphra Behn’s emergence as a successful female playwright and her use of character Angellica Bianca will be analyzed to illustrate how theatre was an essential part of the emergence of women’s sensuality in society.

The love for theatre that King Charles brought back with him from his exile brought reflexivity to who was in the audience. Charles funded many stage productions and the presence of royalty brought a certain amount of prestige to the playwrights and actors and actresses performing at the time. To attend the theatre was a venue for social mingling and self-exploration and expression for women ...

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... acting and playwriting.

Works Cited

Elwin, Malcolm. Handbook to Restoration Drama. Port Washington: Kennikat Press, 1966.

Goldfarb, Alvin & Wilson, Edwin. History of the Living Theatre: Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw - Hill Companies, 2008.

Lowenthal, Cynthia. Performing Identities on the Restoration Stage. Southern Illinois University: Library of Congress Cataloging –in- Publication Data, 2003.

Maus, Katharine Eisaman. “Playhouse Flesh and Blood’: Sexual Ideology and the Restoration Actress” Theatre as Cultural Practice. Brock University: Brock Printing Services, 2010. 568 – 574. Course pack.

Nicoll, Allardyce. A History of Restoration Drama 1660-1700. London: Fetter Lane, E.C, 1923.

Wise, Jennifer., and Walker, Craig S, eds. The Broadview Anthology of Drama : Plays From the Western Theatre. Toronto, ON : Broadview Press, 2003. Print.