Restoration theatre became a way to celebrate the end of Puritan rule, with its strict moral codes. To celebrate the opening of the theatres Restoration plays were lavish, often immoral by Puritan standards, and pokes fun at both royalists and roundheads. Comedies were popular!
Restoration Comedy:
- Quick witted and comedic situations
- George Farquhar's "The Recruiting Officer" (1706) was the most performed play
- Comedic plays relied on situational humour: disguises, mistaken identity and misunderstandings
- The audience is aware of the trickery; whereas other characters are left in the dark, only to have all revealed in the end
- They were not a mirror of society but rather exaggerated
- The typical audience was upper class
- Boys played the role of women
- Women played the role of men as a form of situational comedy
- Characterised by witty dialogue and sophisticated sexual behaviour
- Expressed the suppressed feelings of freedom
- Stiffness and elegance returned
- Men shaved their heads and wore curly wigs
- Women wore ringlets with tendrils - rich women weaved pearls in
- Low necklines on dresses & men wore cravats rather than collars
