Masks in Theatre

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Luke Bullen

Masks in Theatre

Masks have been used in theatre throughout history, adding an extra aspect to acting, and creating an extra façade and fantasy, so that the need for escapism could be fulfilled.  

Ancient Greek Theatre

In Greek theatre, the members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors- a typical Greek mask is shown below. Because the number of actors varied from one to three, they had to put on different masks, in order to play more roles.

The actors were all men. The mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles. This picture portrays a woman's mask.

Some people claim that the masks had one more significance: they added resonance to the voice of an actor so that everyone in the huge ancient theatre could hear them. I do not quite agree with that point of view. I think it's enough for someone to attend a modern performance of a play in the ancient theatre of Epidavros to feel the perfection of the acoustics in an ancient theatre. Even the audience of the last row can hear a whisper from the orchestra.

An interesting idea is that the mask could give to the character some sort of universality, creating an average figure, so that the audience would judge him on his actions and not his appearance. Certainly that was a result of the use of the mask but I am not quite convinced that it was one of the purposes of its use.

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Usually the masks were made of linen, wood, or leather. A marble or stone face was used as a mould for the mask. Human or animal hair was also used. The eyes were fully drawn but in the place of the pupil of the eye was a small hole so that the actor could see.

Commedia dell’Arte

Beginning during the Renaissance and lasting into the eighteenth century, travelling troupes performed the commedia dell' arte, the Italian comedy. The company's ten or more actors each developed a specific type of character, such as the Captain, two old men (Pantaloon and the ...

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