Theater Evolution: From Realism to Avant-Garde

Theater Until 1970

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a truly revolutionary theatrical movement emerged.

Realistic Theater

This was a commercial theater that catered to a taste for realism, looking for the natural. A key author in this movement was Konstantin Stanislavski.

Political Theater

This form broke with realistic and naturalistic theater, proposing to amend society.

• Erwin Piscator (1893-1966): A German director, Piscator took theater out of the conventional setting. One of his best-known works is *The Adventures of the Good Soldier Schwejk*.
• Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956): A German dramatist, Brecht's works had a moralizing purpose, requiring the viewer to work to understand the message. A notable example is *Mother Courage and Her Children*.

Psychological Drama

This focused on the natural and moved away from bombast. Henrik Ibsen's play *A Doll's House* is a prime example.

Theater of the Absurd

This reflected the absurdity of human existence, and characters were often inconsistent, with illogical situations. Key authors include:

• Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936): An Italian author, Pirandello's works often explored the conflict between instinct and reason. A notable work is *Six Characters in Search of an Author*.
• Eugene Ionesco (1909-1994): A Romanian playwright, Ionesco explored the difficulties of human communication, characterized by humor and nonsense language. A key work is *The Bald Soprano*.
• Samuel Beckett (1906-1989): An Irish author, Beckett saw literature as a way out of the negativity and absurdity of life. His most famous work is *Waiting for Godot*.

The Evolution of Theater in Spain in the 20th Century

This was marked by the Civil War.

• Bourgeois Comedy: Representative: Jacinto Benavente, who critiqued bourgeois society in works like *The Alien Nest*.
• Theater of Humor: Enrique Jardiel Poncela's work *Eloisa Is Beneath an Almond Tree* mixes magic, humor, and intrigue.
• Miguel Mihura: His work *Three Top Hats* attempts to show the rational through the irrational.
• Pedro Muñoz Seca: His work *The Revenge of Don Mendo* showcases direct humor and escapism.

Avant-Garde Theater

Ramón Gómez de la Serna incorporated European theatrical innovations into his work.

• Federico García Lorca: Lorca showed the confrontation between authority and freedom, blending poetry and reality. There are three stages in his work:
  • Modernist Theater: His work *The Butterfly's Evil Spell* reflects his conception of theater as a total show, relating gestures, music, and text on stage.
  • Farces: Works like *The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife* show the passions and instincts of human beings and the society we live in.
  • Drama: These are his most outstanding works, such as *Blood Wedding*, which revolves around forbidden love.

Existential Theater

This form committed to an immediate reality, seeking to convey the truth with the objective of disturbing and shaking consciences.

• Antonio Buero Vallejo: His works show the existential angst of his characters, who often have physical or psychological defects, and address social issues in Spain.
• Alfonso Sastre: He believed that theater has a social and political function. A notable work is *The Gag*.

Commercial Theater

The emergence of a commercial theater sought to entertain an audience. Author: Antonio Gala. Work: *Rings for a Lady*.

Experimental Theater

Special effects, movements, and makeup become important, and the director is free to modify the text. Author: Alan Ayckbourn. Play: *The Coronation*.