ENTERTAINMENT IN THE ELIZABETHAN ERA

1
ENTERTAINMENT IN THE ELIZABETHAN ERA
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For Women

• Acting companies consisted of only men and boys
  because women did not perform on the Elizabethan
  stage.
• (Wardsworth 333)

3
In a Midsummer Nights Dream
In A Midsummer Nights Dream, Flute had to play
the part of Thisbe during the play within a play.

• A show done in 1999 with Peter Zaremba as Thisbe
  , and Kevin MacPherson as Pyramus

4
With Animals

• Animals were taught to imitate actions of humans
  such as tumbling and dancing (Strutt 195)

5
In a Midsummer Nights Dream

• As Duke Theseus gets prepared for his wedding,
  animals are being trained to perform for him.
  Also it might have been on Philostrates list of
  entertainment

6
In Dancing

• The exhibition of dancing connected with leaping
  and tumbling for the entertainment of princes and
  noblemen for occasions of festivity were common.
  (Strutt 175)

7
In a Midsummer Nights Dream

• Dancers were prepared to entertain in the Dukes
  wedding, which was considered a very important
  occasion.

8
For the stage

• The stage of a public theatre was a large
  platform that projected into the pit.
  (Wardsworth 352)

9
In A Midsummer Nights Dream

• The play within a play is performed on a stage
  that projected into the pit for Duke Theseus.

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In Conclusion,

• The theme of entertainment is very relevant to
  the theme of A Midsummer Nights Dream. It is
  relevant through women, animals, dancing, and the
  stage of a public theatre. All-in-all,
  shakespeare succeeded in the intertwining of
  entertainment in the Elizabethan Era, and A
  Midsummer Nights dream.