Paul--
I think this is a long out-dated theory promoted by Chambers and
to a lesser extent Young. It supposes the evolution of vernacular drama
from liturgical drama and a movement from the church into the streets
(what Chambers called secularization). O. B. Hardison, Jr., exposed the
evolutionary thinking of Chambers long ago and suggested separate origins
for liturgical and vernacular drama. I do not go into origins much in my
recent book, Drama, Play and Game, but I do talk about the Chambers
theory. As far as I know liturgical dramas remain inside the church. The
Jeu D'Adam, which is not a liturgical drama, was apparently staged on the
steps of the church.
Larry Clopper
On Mon, 15 Oct 2001, Paul Nelsen wrote:
> Dear Friends,
>
> A colleague of mine has posed a question that I am unable to sort out for
> her with any confidence. The specific query appears below but it asks for a
> date when "liturgical" type drama shifted from interiors of churches to
> outdoors. If you post your response to the list (I am interested and others
> may be), I will pass it along to her. Alternatively, you may reply directly
> to Prof. Clark. Meanwhile I am supplying her with copies of Chambers *The
> Medieval Stage*, Tydeman's *The Theatre in the Middle Ages*, and Hardin
> Craig's *English Religious Drama of the Middle Ages* -- all of which seem
> to provide a swamp of evidence on why it may be hard to pinpoint a date.
> Thanks for your consideration.
>
> Paul Nelsen
> Theatre and Drama
> Marlboro College
>
>
> Is there any documentation (chronicles, letters, etc.) to
> suggest, within a decade or two, when theatrical performances moved from
> a liturgical context within the church to public performances of
> somewhat longer plays on the exterior? I have a reference that mentions
> the twelfth century, but that is a long and complex century, and I would
> like to be more precise. Thank you, W. B. Clark (Art History, Marlboro
> College: [log in to unmask]).
>
>
