The Restoration Theater Analysis

It is not long after that,that in 1660 Charles II was invited back to rule over England and the monarchy restored.This period now became known as "The Restoration " hence the term "Restoration Theater" given to plays from this time and was a time for theatrical renewal in England. Charles II an avid enthusiast of the performing arts helped breathe new life into British drama and helped with it 's reestablishment. Charles issued two patents allowing the formation of two new theater companies. These were "The Dukes Men" led by William Davenant a company for younger performers and "The King 's Company" under Thomas Killigrew consisting of more mature actors. Although these companies created many theatrical opportunities, as the sole legal companies there monopoly over the industry almost had a reverse effect and hindered the nationwide growth of British

These plays were not a mirror of society at the time but rather a gross exaggeration of the society in which the audience lived that they ,in turn, could recognize and appreciate.Elements of these comedies were repeated throughout the next forty years including cuckolding, the fear a husband had of been made a fool of by a straying wife and seduction as seen by Horner the Rake in William Wycherly 's "The Country Wife". Wycherly 's play tells of a cunning plan to convince the townspeople of our protagonist 's impotency a man who in turn has his way with many of the plays women. The play reveals to the audience many destinations in which one might go in order to fill ones sexual appetite and it is these references that the audience could in turn associate with everyday life. Wycherly cleverly embeds in his work how wrong he backwards he believe 's society to be through the character Alethea. Alethea is being forced to marry a man much older then her for financial preservation yet her attraction to Harcourt 's intelligence and gallantry in turn wins her heart. Alethea is by far the most admirable character in this play and it is clear from her few speeches that life in the town has sharpened her wits but has not dulled her morals. Wycherlys inclusion of characters like Alethea reflects that there are still people with a moral compass in 17th Century

A direct rebellion to the tyrannic time spent under the puritan regime writers and actors went to the extremes in hopes of defying and rebuking against the struggles they had just overcome. Restoration theater was not a judgement or criticism of how people of the time lived there lives but rather a medium used to enlighten society to it 's ways.Following an absence spanning almost two decades theater became reborn and this rebellion ensured that that theater would never be suppressed again. We don 't use over exaggerated outfits,our make-up on stage is often simple and natural and our plots and story lines are no longer as drastic but then we have never known what it is to be without the theater,our lives never conditioned and our entertainment never banned and so surely it is that this form of theater,immoral as it may be is justified considering the society from which it is