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The 18th century in England was a time of dramatic shifts in theatrical tastes. Gone were the bawdy, scandalous comedies of the Restoration era, replaced by a wave of sentimental comedies and tragedies designed to tug at the heartstrings and impart moral lessons. Let's raise the curtain and explore this fascinating period of theatrical history!
A New Era of Feeling: The Rise of Sentimental Theater
Imagine stepping into a theater, not for raucous laughter, but for a good cry. That's what 18th-century audiences craved with the rise of sentimental theater. This genre, a reaction against the perceived immorality of Restoration comedy, aimed to make audiences better people through the power of emotion.
Sentimental comedies, like Richard Steele's The Conscious Lovers, presented virtuous characters overcoming adversity and ultimately finding happiness (often through marriage!). While not laugh-out-loud funny, these plays provided a
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