BUNAWAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

MAPEH 9 (ARTS)
Fourth Quarter: Week 5

Name: __________________________________ Grade and Section: ___________________

Teacher: JEMALYN H. LASACA Cellphone Number: 09476136811

I. TITLE: WESTERN CLASSICAL PLAYS/OPERA

II. LEARNING COMPETENCIES:

1. Define what makes selected western classical plays and operas unique through visual
representation; A9PL-IVc-1
2. Design the visual elements and components of the selected Western classical theater play and
opera through costumes, props, etc.; A9PR-IVd-1
3. Analyze the uniqueness of each group’s performance of its selected Western classical theater play
and opera; A9PR-IVh-2
4. Show the influences of the selected Western Classical play or opera on Philippine theatrical
performance in terms of form and content of story; A9PR-IVh-6
5. Choreograph the movements and gestures needed in the effective delivery of a selected piece from
Western Classical plays and opera; A9PR-IVe-f-3
6. Improvise accompanying sound and rhythm needed in the effective delivery of a selected piece
from Western Classical plays and operas; A9PR-IVe-f-3
7. Perform in a group showcase of the selected piece from Western Classical plays and operas;
A9PR-IVg-5

III. INSTRUCTIONS:
This activity sheet focused on explaining about the Western Classical Plays and Operas, its
elements, performances and influences. Write your answers in a separate sheet of paper.

IV. ACTIVITIES:

Renaissance Theater: 1400-1600

Renaissance theater arts were characterized by a return of Classical Greek and Roman arts and culture.

In the Middle Ages, mystery plays formed a part of religious festivals in

England and other parts of Europe during the Renaissance period.
Morality plays (in which the protagonist was met by personifications of
various moral attributes who try to choose a Godly life over the evil) and
the University drama were formed to recreate Athenian tragedy. Public
theatres were developed like, the Commedia dell'arte (Italian comedy
and a humorous theatrical presentation performed by professional
players who traveled in troupes) and the elaborate masques (a dramatic
entertainment consisting of pantomime, dancing, dialogue, and song and
sometimes players wore masks) that were usually presented in court.
One of the most prominent supporters of the theater was Queen
Elizabeth I. The companies of players (companies of actors) were organized by the aristocrats and
performed seasonally in many places. They were called professional players that performed on the
Elizabethan stage. The tours of these players gradually replaced the performances of the mystery and
morality plays by local players. Gorboduc (authors were Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville), also
known as Ferrex and Porrex, was an English play and first performed at the Christmas celebration in 1561,
and performed before Queen Elizabeth I on 18 January 1562, by the Gentlemen of the Inner Temple (was
one of the four Inns of Court -professional associations for barristers and judges in London).
The famous actor and poet who emerged in this period was William Shakespeare. He was baptized
on April 26, 1564 and died on April 23, 1616. He was an English poet, playwright and actor and regarded
as the greatest writer and dramatist in the whole world. Shakespeare was often called England's national
poet and the "Bard of Avon". His works consist of about 38 plays. Some of these plays were well-loved
Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Much Ado about Nothing.
The four tragedies considered to be Shakespeare's greatest works were Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and
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Macbeth. Other contemporary playwrights were Christopher Marlowe's (tragedies such as Dr. Faustus and
The Jew of Malta), and Thomas Kyd (The Spanish Tragedy).
The history plays depicted English or European history. Shakespeare's plays were about the lives of
kings, such as Richard III and Henry V, Christopher Marlowe's Edward II and George Peele's Famous
Chronicle of King Edward the First. Comedies were common, too, that dealt with life in London after the
fashion of Roman New Comedy. Some of comedy plays were ―The Shoemaker's Holiday by Thomas
Dekker and ―A Chaste Maid in Cheapside by Thomas Middleton.

For the first time, ballet was performed in public during this period. Ballet is a
formalized form of dance which originated from the Italian Renaissance courts. It
developed and flourished from Italy to France with the help of Catherine de' Medici,
(Queen of France). An early example of Catherine's development of ballet is through
„Le Paradis d' Amour', a piece of work presented at her daughter's wedding,
Marguerite de Valois to Henry of Navarre. Money of the Aristocrats was responsible
for the initial stages of court ballet for the Aristocrats’ entertainment. The first formal
court ballet ever recognized was, 'Ballet des Polonais' in 1573. A true form of royal
entertainment, 'Ballet des Polonais' was commissioned by Catherine de' Medici to
honor the Polish Ambassadors who visited Paris for the enthronement of King Henry
in Poland.

Innovations of the Stage:

1. Proscenium was developed. This is the area of a theater surrounding the stage opening. Arches frame
and divide the stage from the audience.
2. Backdrops for scenery were popularized by the art of painting clothes.
3. Commedia dell'arte or ―Comedy of the Profession was developed. It was quick-witted performance of
the characters/players

Baroque Theater 1600-1750

The theater of the Baroque period is marked by the use of technology in current
Broadways or commercial plays. The theater crew uses machines for special effects
and scene changes which may be changed in a matter of seconds with the use of
ropes and pulleys. This technology affected the content of the performed pieces,
practicing at its best the Deus ex Machina (a Latin word meaning "god from the
machine) solution.

Neoclassical Theater 1800-1900

The Neoclassical period was a movement where the styles of Roman and Greek societies influenced the
theater arts.
During the Neoclassical period, the theater was characterized by its grandiosity. Costumes and
sceneries were highly elaborate. The main concepts of the plays were to entertain and to teach lessons.
Stages were restyled with dramatic arches to highlight the scenes. Multiple entry
points on the stage were evident in many plays. Lighting and sound effects
intensified the mood and message of each scene, enhancing the dramatic
experience. The idea of changing scenery and backdrops become more noticeable,
particularly with the invention of pulley systems that allowed parts to move more
quickly across the stage.
The concept of decorum (meaning right and proper audience behavior) was
applied in this period which means classical concepts and appropriate social
behavior must be observed.
This period officially established just two types of plays, tragedy and comedy. They never mix these
two together. This restriction led to the use of the now well-known pair of happy and sad masks that
symbolize the theatrical arts. Tragedies portrayed the complex and fateful lives of the upper classes and
royals, while comedies, which were either public discourse or comedies of manners, tended to focus on the
lower ranks of society, Observance to these genres was critical to a play's success.
Three playwrights achieved a significant amount of success. Pierre Cornielle (1606 – 1684) was
often called the father of the French tragedy, writing scripts for more than four decades. One of these was
“The Cid”. Jean Baptiste Poquelin, better known as Molière (1622 – 1673) was known for his comedies,

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“Tartuffe and The Missanthrope” was one of his works. Jean Racine (1639 – 1699) was a tragedian
beloved for his simple approach to action and the linguistic rhythms and effects he achieved. “Andromache
and Phaedra” was one of his scripts. These men were able to take elements from classical Greek and
Roman literature and transform them into plays.
TRIVIA about the Neoclassical Theater:
1. The first "spotlight" was used in the U.S. during this period and was called “The Limelight”
2. The Theatre Regulation Act of 1843 banned drinking in legitimate theaters. Many tavern owners
took advantage of the situation and renovated their establishments to accommodate live
performances.
Ancient Greek Theater
Greek theater with its large audience, use contorted facial masks. These conveyed specific emotions. Two
of the masks is now iconic. The face of comedy represented by the Muse of comedy Thalia and the face of
tragedy represented by the Muse of tragedy Melpomeme.
The use of masks enabled actors in ancient Greek plays to portray different roles without confusing the
audience. Exaggerated expressions on the masks helped distinguish the characters so they will be
recognized even to audience members seated far away from the audience.

Romantic Theater 1800-2000

Romantic Playwrights
During Romantic period, melodrama and operas became the most
popular theatrical forms. Melodrama originated from the French word
“melodrame”, which is derived from Greek ―melos”, music, and French
drame”, which is derived from Greek ―dran” to peform. Melodrama can be
also be described as a dramatic work that puts characters in a lot of danger in
order to appeal to the emotions and in which orchestral music or song was
used to accompany the action. Opera in the other hand is an art form in which
singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text (called a
libretto) and musical score. Such as acting, scenery, and costumes and dance
were important elements of the theater. It is usually performed in an opera
house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble.

Romantic Composers

Georges Bizet was born on October 25, 1838 – died June 3, 1875, Paris. Bizet was the only child of
Adolphe Armand Bizet (formerly a hairdresser and later became a singer and composer) and Aimee Marie
Louise Leopoldine Josephine Delsarte, (a pianist). He entered the Paris Conservatory of Music a fortnight
before his tenth birthday. His first symphony, the Symphony in C Major, was written when he was
seventeen years old. The symphony had an amazing stylistic resemblance to the music of Franz Schubert.

This French composer was a pianist and best known for his operas. Carmen is the most popular among his
works. Bizet composed the title role for a mezzosoprano in the character of Carmen. The opera tells the
story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the charms of the sizzling Gypsy,
Carmen.

Some of his stage works are La prêtresse, operetta (1854), Le docteur Miracle, opéra bouffe (1857), Don
Procopio, opéra bouffe (1859), Les pêcheurs de perles, opera (1863), Ivan IV, grand opera (unfinished), La
jolie fille de Perth, opera (1867), Noé, opera by Fromental Halévy finished by Bizet (1869), L'Arlésienne,
'musique de scène' (1872), Djamileh, one-act opera (1872). His contemporary composers during Romantic
period were Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Frederic Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Felix
Mendelsshon and Hector Berlioz

Different Western Classical Plays and Opera

A. Greek:
This time let us read an example of plays, Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Understand the
stories because after you have read these, you will answer the activities given in this
module and choose one of them to perform in the culminating activity. You are given
enough time to read the story.
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Sophocles (sofəkliz); c. 497/6 BC 406/5 BC) is an ancient Greek tragedian. His contemporary playwrights
were Aeschylus, and Euripides. Sophocles wrote 123 plays, but only seven have survived in a complete
form:
 Ajax,  Electra,
 Antigone,  Philoctetes and
 The Women of Trachis,  Oedipus at Colonus.
 Oedipus (Ee dih - pus)
the King,
For almost 50 years in the dramatic competitions of the city-state of Athens that took place during
the religious festivals of the Lenaea and the Dionysia, Sophocles was the most famous playwright. He won
first place in 24 out of 30 competitions and was never judged lower than second place. Aeschylus won 14
competitions, and was sometimes defeated by Sophocles, while Euripides won only 4 competitions. The
most famous tragedies of Sophocles were Oedipus and Antigone: they were known as the Theban plays,
although each play was actually a part of a different tetralogy. Sophocles influenced the development of the
drama, most importantly by adding a third actor. And he developed his characters to a greater importance
than the chorus in the presentation of the plot.

Oedipus Rex (Ee-dih–pus Rex)

(Sophocles-Playwright)
Main Characters:
 Oedipus - the king of Thebes
 Creon - Oedipus brother-in-law
 Eurydice - Creon’s wife
 Apollo - god or oracle of Delphi
 King Laius - father of Oedipus
 Jocasta - mother and wife of Oedipus
 Polynices and Eteocles – sons of Oedipus
 Tiresias - the blind prophet
 Polybus - Oedipus foster father
 Merope - Oedipus foster mother
 Antigone and Ismene – the daughters of Oedipus
 Haemon - Antigone’s lover
 Sphinx- the half-human half-lion that symbolizes plague and misfortune

Theatrical Elements:
 Genre: Tragedy
Number of Characters per Play: 1 to 3 characters only, but they can portray other characters.
The Chorus: consists of twelve (12) members, all of whom wore identical masks since they were
supposed to be of like mind and opinion.
 Masks: The use of masks acts to advance the universality of the themes and the dramatic impact of
the events and to keep the audience from being distracted by the actual, physical attributes of the
actors.
Oedipus – a gold mask with exaggerated deep empty eye sockets.

Jocasta: the wife of Laius, mother of Oedipus, the expression of her mask depends on the
scene of the play.

Antigone and Ismene: white face, dark under the eyes and sad-
looking.

Creon – brother-in-law of Oedipius, mad or angry facial expression, with crown.

 Gestures and Movements

Facial expression was of no importance to Greek actors, since they were always masked.

For more readings and viewing, research and browse on the internet the story of the Oedipus Rex.
1. Sophocles Oedipus Rex http://youtu.be/ZZUCgq8LfhY
2. COMPLETE RARE FILM of Oedipus the King w/Christopher Plummer http://youtu.be/mAgvdfyAiJw

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 3. Oedipus The King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS9KJ_bAJLE&feature=share&list=PL96E9FB6082235976

FAMOUS FILIPINO PLAYWRIGHTS

Read the biography of the following Filipino theater artists, Francisco Balagtas, Severino R. Reyes, Ricardo
G. Abad and Salvador F. Bernal. Watch the play Walang Sugat and Florante at Laura. Compare and
differentiate their works to Western classical theater. And answer the chart below.

Francisco Balagtas y de la Cruz was born on April 2, 1788 in Panginay, Bigaa, Bulacan and died on
February 20, 1862 of pneumonia. He was also known as Francisco Baltazar. His best-known work is the
Florante at Laura. Francisco Balagtas was the youngest of the four children of Juan Balagtas, a
blacksmith, and Juana de la Cruz. He studied in a parochial school in Bigaa and later in Manila. During his
childhood years. Francisco worked as houseboy in Tondo, Manila.

Balagtas learned to write poetry from José de la Cruz (Huseng Sisiw), one of the most famous poets of
Tondo. It was de la Cruz himself who personally challenged Balagtas to improve his writing.

In 1835, Balagtas moved to Pandacan, where he met María Asunción Rivera, who served as the muse for
his future works. She is referenced in Florante at Laura as 'Celia' and 'Mer'.

Balagtas' affections for Mer were challenged by the influential Mariano Capule. Capule won the battle when
he used his wealth to get Balagtas imprisoned under the accusation that he ordered a servant girl's head to
be shaved. It was in prison that he wrote Florante at Laura so that the events of the poem were meant to
parallel his own situation.

Balagtas published Florante at Laura upon his release in 1838. He moved to Balanga, Bataan in 1840
where he served as the assistant to the Justice of the peace and later, in 1856, as the Major Lieutenant.

He died on February 20, 1862 at the age of 73. On his deathbed, he asked a favor that none of his children
become a poet like him, who had suffered under his gift. He even told them it would be better to cut their
hands off than let them be writers.

Balagtas is so greatly revered in the Philippines that the term for Filipino debate in extemporaneous verse
is named after him: Balagtasan and one of the greatest literary awards in the Philippines is also named
after him.

Severino R. Reyes (A playwright)

 “Father of the Tagalog Zarzuela"
 The son of Rufino Reyes and Andrea Rivera, Reyes was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila on February 11,
1861.
 He studied at San Juan de Letran College and later at the University of Sto. Tomas, where he
studied philosophy.
 A Filipino writer, dramatist, and playwright, he was highly acclaimed as one of the giants of Tagalog
literature
 In 1902, Reyes founded and directed the Grand Compania de Zarzuela Tagala.
 On June 14, 1902, the company staged his play Walang Sugat (No Wounds),

In 1923, Reyes co-founded the Liwayway, a Tagalog literary weekly which published a series of fairy tales
titled ― Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang‖, written by Reyes. The storyteller, Lola Basyang was based by the
author on a neighbor named Gervacia de Guzman.

Severino Reyes died on September 15, 1942, when the Philippines was under the Japanese regime.
Severino Reyes' masterpiece, Walang Sugat broadly underscores the injustice of Spanish rule even as it
dances around the cruel fate of the young lovers Tenyong and Julia with humor and song. Set in the final
leg of the Philippine Revolution, Tenyong is forced to leave behind his childhood sweetheart Julia to join the
Katipunan. Meanwhile, Julia's mother pressures her into marrying the wealthy Miguel instead. With no word
from Tenyong as the battle Severino Reyes died on September 15, 1942, when the Philippines was under
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the Japanese regime. Severino Reyes' masterpiece, Walang Sugat broadly underscores the injustice of
Spanish rule even as it dances around the cruel fate of the young lovers Tenyong and Julia with humor and
song. Set in the final leg of the Philippine Revolution, Tenyong is forced to leave behind his childhood
sweetheart Julia to join the Katipunan. Meanwhile, Julia's mother pressures her into marrying the wealthy
Miguel instead. With no word from Tenyong as the battle prolongs, Julia gives in, but her wedding is
interrupted by the fatally wounded Tenyong. He mentions his dying wish to Julia, and the play features an
"unexpected twist" that shows how Tenyong was able to outwit the persons separating him from his
beloved Julia.

• The production was directed by Ricardo Abad, under the musical direction of Josefino Tolledo. Jonjon
Villareal handled lights design while Dexter Santos choreographed. Set, and costumes were designed by
National Artist Salvador Bernal.

Dr. Ricardo G. Abad (A Director)

 Born in Manila on August 10, 1946 of parents from Cavite and Camiguin.
 Graduated at the Ateneo de Manila, after which he obtained a Fulbright grant to finish a doctorate in
sociology at Fordham University in New York.
 Full-time Faculty, Department of Sociology and Anthropology; Artistic Director, Tanghalang Ateneo
Metrobank Network of Outstanding Teachers Pathways/ANI, Ateneo de Manila University Role
Players, Theater for Life Social Weather Stations
 Has been involved as actor and director in over 120 productions while at the same time doing
sociological work as teacher, researcher, and editor.
 He has also directed and acted for professional companies like Teatro Pilipino and Tanghalang
Pilipino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Metropolitan Theater.
 Theater Guild. Many of his theater productions were classics of western drama but in terms of a
Filipino and Asian sensibility, like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Salvador F. Bernal (Father of Theater Design in the Philippines)

 Born in 1945 to a family that ran a Terno shop
 He was the first to develop theater design as a profession and elevate it to an art form.
 Studied at Ateneo de Manila and at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA; practiced and
handled courses in the art and craft of theater design.
 Taught briefly at Ateneo de Manila and University of the Philippines
 He had designed more than 250 productions in ballet, theater and film.
 National Artist awardee

Activity 1: Fill Me In!

Instructions: Write the following description of each Famous Filipino Playwrights in the box. Choose the
answers provided on the box. Do this in your answer sheet.
April 2, 1788 Father of Theater Design Father of the Tagalog Zarsuela
August 10, 1946 Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang Florante at Laura
Father of Balagtasan 1 to develop Theater Design
st
Romeo and Juliet
A Director A Playwright 1945

Francisco Balagtas Severino R. Reyes Dr. Ricardo G. Abad Salvador F. Bernal

Activity 2: Mask
Instructions: Create your own mask that will show the influence of the Western classical theater. Do not
forget to incorporate the use of the Basic Elements and Principles of Arts. You may use any available
materials found at home.
5 4 3 2 1
CRITERIA
Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor
Composition and design
Showed the theme and motifs of the
Western Classical Period.
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 Process
Followed the instruction in doing the
activity.
Materials used
Used materials and tools suggested
in the activity.
Overall look of the artwork

Activity 3: 2nd SUMMATIVE TEST IN ARTS 9

Instructions: Read the questions carefully and identify what is being described. Write your answers in a
separate sheet of paper.
1. He was acknowledged as the Father of Theatre Design in the Philippines and a national awardee.
a. Francisco Baltazar b. Ricardo Abad c. Salvador Bernal d. Severino Reyes
2. A French composer and pianist of the Romantic era, but best known for his realistic opera, Carmen.
a. Ludwig Van Beethoven b. Ricardo Abad c. Salvador Bernal d. Severino Reyes
3. Theatre gradually evolved and became extravagant because special effects to the stage were
introduced. In what period when multimedia was first experienced in the field of theatre arts?
a. Ancient Egypt b. Baroque c. Neoclassical d. Romanticism
4. A type of stage lightning that was first employed in the US during the neoclassical period to highlight the
performers on the stage. What is the name of the device?
a. Fresnel b. Limelight c. Parcan d. Profile
5. Severino Reyes was a Filipino writer, playwright, and a director of plays and commended as one of the
giants of Philippine Literature that made him as the ________________.
a. Father of Kundiman c. Father of Philippine Theatre
b. Father of Philippine Literature d. Father of Tagalog Zarzuela
6. He was a prominent Filipino poet, and is widely considered as the William Shakespeare of the
Philippines because of his Florante and Laura.
a. Francisco Baltazar b. Ricardo Abad c. Salvador Bernal d. Severino Reyes
7. Romeo and Julliet is one of William Shakespeare’s famous plays that portrays the often-told tale of star-
crossed lovers from feuding families and kill themselves for love. What is the theme of this play?
a. Comedy b. History c. Romance d. Tragedy
8. A Greek poet serves as the first actor and introduced the use of masks and often called as the “Father of
Tragedy”.
a. Aristhophanes b. Eurippides c. Sophocles d. Thepsis
9. It was considered as the center of entertainment in Ancient Rome.
a. Amphitheatre b. Coliseum c. Court d. Epidaurus
10. Medieval theatre flourished in the 15th century; but developed out of liturgical ceremonies. Plays in
medieval period evolve in what theme?
a. Biblical b. Gladiator c. Romantic d. Tragedy
11. Which of the following is not a usual theme for Roman theatre plays?
a. Chariot races b. Festivals b. Gladiators d. Public executions
12. A theatre from the Renaissance period characterized by the use of the masks, improvisation, physical
comedy and recognizable character types.
a. Commedia dell’arte b. Dido and Aenas c. Knight Masque d. La Calisto
13. Renaissance theatre was characterized by the return of classical Greek and Roman arts and culture
and it brought a monumental increase int the production of live theatre that is why it was considered as
the ______________.
a. Dark Age Theatre c. Middle Age Theatre
b. Golden Age Theatre d. Revival Theatre
14. A Medieval play designed to teach people a lesson on how to live their life according to the rules of the
church.
a. Marvel play b. Miracle Play c. Morality Play d. Mystery play
15. For the ancient Roman theatre, this type of drama consists of jokes and mockery, intended to make an
audience laugh and play with happy ending.
a. Biblical b. Gladiator c. Romantic d. Tragedy

V. CLOSURE/REFLECTION:
What have you learned or discovered about our topic for this week?

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VI. REFERENCES:
Badiola, Mary Grace J., et. al., (First Edition, 2014). Music and Arts 9 Learner’s Material. pp. 269-
294.

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