Why England's most famous comedies were actually quite bad at being funny
In short: Forget the witty repartee and sharp satire of the Restoration. In the era of Sentimental Comedy, the goal wasn't to make you laugh, but to move you to tears. As England moved away from bawdy humor, a new, highly regulated era of drama emerged.
During the transition following the Restoration period, English theater underwent a profound cultural shift. The era of 'bawdy' plays—noted for their ribaldry and irreverent humor—began to lose its grip on the public imagination. In its place rose the Sentimental Comedy. As the name suggests, these productions prioritized emotional resonance over comedic timing. If you were looking for a sharp, hilarious wit, you were likely to be disappointed; these plays were famously more focused on evoking sentiment than laughter.
This shift was not merely a matter of changing tastes, but was heavily influenced by a landscape of strict institutional control. The theatrical world of this period was defined by intense regulation. At the height of this era, the freedom to perform was incredibly limited, with only two licensed theaters permitted to present plays to the public. This scarcity of venues meant that the drama playing on these stages was subject to significant oversight and rules.
The rise of sentimentalism represents a broader societal movement in England, as the nation attempted to shake off the 'Restoration hangover.' The transition from the provocative, often scandalous energy of the previous era toward a more controlled, emotionally driven form of storytelling reflects a changing social contract. While the lack of comedic punch might make them less appealing to modern audiences seeking satire, these plays played a crucial role in reshaping the boundaries of English dramatic expression.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: England's Sentimental Theater: Crash Course Theater #26
- Also: Crash Course Theater | England's Sentimental Theater | Episode 26
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