Spanish Theatre of the 18th Century: Post-Baroque, Neoclassical and Popular Styles

Summary

This text outlines the evolution of Spanish theatre during the 18th century, from the post-Baroque style that continued Calderón's formulas to the Neoclassical movement with its strict rules and didactic aims. It also covers the rise of modern comedy, sentimental comedy and the popular sainete, naming key authors and works for each style.

Key points

Post-Baroque theatre dominated the first half of the century, continuing Calderón's dramatic formulas with more complex plots and staging.
Neoclassical theatre emerged in the second half of the century and followed the rule of three units: space, time and action.
Neoclassical theatre valued credibility and realism and saw theatre as a tool for education and propaganda.
Leandro Fernández de Moratín is considered the creator of modern Spanish comedy.
Sentimental comedy mixed unfortunate themes with happy endings and is considered a precursor to romantic drama.
The sainete, a short comic piece, was popularised by Ramón de la Cruz.

Test yourself

Spanish Theatre: A Century of Evolution

Throughout the 18th century, there was a profound appreciation for theatre. The main manifestations of this period include:

Post-Baroque Theatre

Dominating the first half of the century, this style continued the dramatic formulas of Calderón. Authors repeated established themes and arguments but increased the complexity of the plots and staging. Key figures include Antonio Zamora and José de Cañizares.

Neoclassical Theatre

Emerging in the second half of the century, this movement stood in opposition to previous styles for both aesthetic and social reasons. This new theatre was characterized by:

Strict adherence to the rule of three units: Space, time, and action.
Credibility: A focus on realism.
Didactic intent: Enlightenment thinkers viewed theatre as an essential tool for education and propaganda.

The primary genres were tragedy and comedy. Tragedies imitated French and Italian models, focusing on themes of freedom, patriotism, and noble characters. While it was a theatre for minorities and struggled to find broad public success, the most famous piece was Raquel by Vicente García de la Huerta.

The Rise of Modern Comedy

The sitcom of the era depicted an idealized reality featuring common characters, such as the bourgeoisie and their servants. Its primary purpose was to demonstrate the path of reason and good sense. The main author was Leandro Fernández de Moratín, the creator of modern Spanish comedy. His works reflected the social life and concerns of his time:

El barón: Encouraged the bourgeoisie to embrace their identity.
El viejo y la niña and El sí de las niñas: Recommended an education based on sincerity to end marriages of convenience.
La comedia nueva o el café: Criticized the excesses of popular drama.

Sentimental Comedy

A new development of the century, these works mixed unfortunate themes with happy endings, aligning with pre-Romantic tastes. Considered a precursor to romantic drama, the main proponent was Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos with works such as El delincuente honrado.

Popular Theatre

Among the smaller pieces, the sainete (farce) stands out. These humorous, short pieces focused on popular manners and characters, aiming simply to entertain the public through caricature and witty dialogue. The key figure of this genre was Ramón de la Cruz.

FAQ

Who was the main author of modern Spanish comedy in the 18th century?

The text identifies Leandro Fernández de Moratín as the creator of modern Spanish comedy. His works reflected the social life and concerns of his time.

What is the rule of three units in Neoclassical theatre?

It is the strict adherence to space, time and action in a play. Neoclassical theatre followed this rule closely.

What was the sainete?

The sainete was a humorous, short popular piece that focused on popular manners and characters. It aimed to entertain the public through caricature and witty dialogue.