Comédie Françaiseand the proscenium arch theatre in France

The Comédie FrançaiseNamed Comédie-Française seven years after Molière’s death

The coming together of two rival theatre companies- Molière’s troupe and Theatre du Marais

Considered first “National Theatre”

Several homes

adopted Italian Renaissance Theatre structure, mechanics, painting-scenery

Aspects of the Theatre

incorporated a pit (parterre), boxes and galleries

benches next to stage for royalty, etc.

standing room behind sloped seating

moved from rectangular house to horseshoe shaped- sightlines

Molière

Moliere ten major works

divided into two groups

farcical comedies- influenced by Commedia dell’Arte

high comedies-comedy of character