Historical context presentation notes
Historical Context presentation notes
The play The resistible rise of the Arturo UI was written in 1941 in only three weeks by Bretolt Brecht; 1941 was two years into world war two.
The president of America – Franklin D Rossevelt served eight years running and four after 1941
In Germany Hitler was at the height of his power
Prime minster in England was Winston Churchill 1940 – 1945/1951 - 1955
In 1941 – Pearl harbour – December the 7th the attack was unexpected and led America into world war two. 2,403 Americans lost their life and 1,178 were injured other figures included
3 Destroyers All this lot of money to loose!!!!
1941 president – Franklin D Rossevelt introduced war bonds – He purchased the very first bonds (media stunt)
Later years changed its name to defence bonds
Saving bond = loan with interest
Meanwhile in Britain there was rationing
Each member of a family register at a shop/butcher/bakery
Enough food to go round yet saving a lot because of being a small island – none wasted
Two different ways but both trying to help/save their country.
Entertainment activities – Bowling, cinema, magazines and the radio
Bowling increased in numbers over some years
Cinema – Disney- Dumbo and Bambi were two of the favourite films being shown at the time
Cinema also used for news/updates on the war/information videos/showings
Magazines became popular epically news based- Newsweek/Time
Radio was also increased numbers- famous – Frank Sinatra
Born 10th February 1889 and Died- August 14th 1956
Written in exile from Finland to America in 3 weeks waiting for visa
The Plot of the play is Adolf Hitler rise in power
Compares it to the American Gangster – Grocery business
Audience- Not for the upper class – people who had precisions - un- German – Joseph Gobbels
Bertolt Brecht not liked by the German government because of the content he wrote
Arturo UI – Gang leader – Adolf Hitler – Born 20th April 1889 and Died on the 30th April 1945
Dictator of Germany 1933/1934 – Chancellor in 1933- 1934 referendum (vote) for power.
Ernesto Roma – his lieutenant – Ernst Röhm – Born 28th April 1887 and died 1st July 1934.
Military career started as a cadet – Injured on a number of occasions including Spanish influenza- not expected to live- Met Adolf Hitler in 1919 – Co founder of the SA group
Dogsborough – Paul Von Hindenburg - Born 2nd of October 1847 and died August 2nd 1934. Paul Von Hindenburg had a military career- retired in 1911 but recalled 1914 (WW1)- retired again in 1919.
Back in public 1925 when he was elected for second president of Germany. Served president 1925-1934 – Refused Adolf Hitler as chancellor on several occasions- left with no choice in 1933. Prussion Junkers. East aid scandal.
Emanuele Giri – Gangster - Hermann Göring- Born January 12th 1893 and died October 15th 1946.
Fighter pilot in WW1 – (Flying Ace shoot down 5 or more enemy aircraft) Hermann Göring formed the Gestapo unit in 1933 mainly formed up of officers in the SS. Hermann Göring was appointed Luftwaffe chief commander in 1935 – Up until the final days of WW2 – after failing to fullfill commitments about the Luftwaffe- convicted crimes against humanity and war crimes- sentenced to death- night before execution found dead after suicide by cyanide ingestion.
Giuseppe Givola – The florist/Gangster –Joseph Goebbels- Born 29th October 1897-died may 1st 1945
German politician and close asset/follower of Adolf Hitler- 1933 become the minster of propaganda- (media coverage/beliefs) Responsible for media, literature, visual arts, filmmaking, theatre, music and broadcasting. First job as minster was to burn any book considered un German- Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler shared the same beliefs in many things including actions against Jews in one example when Joseph Goebbels commenced a one day boycott (ban) for businessman, doctors, and lawyers. When he found out about Adolf Hitler suicide he went home- him and wife killed all six of their children and committed suicide themselves.
Cauliflower trust – Prussian Junkers - Society – owned a lot of land and great estates. German government wanted to make the estates of Prussia go bankrupt. Prussia (area of Northern Europe) was a state. Some land was brought through Government money – Junkers already had land and estates - wasted government money on luxury items such as cars and holidays.
SA – Ernst Röhm - A group of people who provided security for politics/political events (brown shirts)
SS – Herman Goring- The SS was linked to the Nazi Party and was their own private protection squad.
Gestapo - Gestapo was a unit of the SS until the knight of the long knifes where the SA leaders were murdered. The SS then became the SA and the Gestapo then became the SS.
The knight of the long knives – Hitler thought the SA had enough power to turn on him
Reports of them having large cache of weapons – concerned if they was to try and rebel.
Hitler ordered them to be killed sparing Rohm to optional suicide.- Refused killed by SS
Unique parts of the book where each character can be related to their parable in real life
Dogsborough – In the play he convinced to lend a city loan – He then becomes involved in the trust after the loan is given- to relate that to – Paul von Hindenburg – He lent money to the Prussian Junkers and then became involved with them when it was discovered they was wasting money.
Arturo UI- In the play he finds out that Dogsborough is involved in the dock scandal and black mails him with it to provide “muscle” for the Grocery trade and to put a good word in to save him when compared to Hitler – Adolf Hitler found out about Paul von Hindenburg and blackmailed him into being chancellor, he had tried on previous occasions but failed.
Emanuele Giri – Hermann Göring – Established the Gestapo – secret police – beginning of the script where the cauliflowers trust accountant was sacked to protect Dogsborough but it was to late- accountant told Arturo but was found by Emanuele Giri – trying to prove something to UI (Ali)
Hermann Goring proving something to Adolf Hitler….
Giuseppe Givola – Joseph Goebbels- Propagander minster – Givola in scene six talking about UI -Image – Consulting each other over what he should wear and walk like/act. Brecht mocking Joseph Goebbels by making him a florist…..
Ernesto Roma – Despite similar names – as his lieutenant they were close alias- quote
“If it is suicide let it be suicide! Hell! Eighteen years of Freindship” –under fire in the scene – when Arturo UI returns he turns on Ernesto Roma- This is similar to Ernst Rohm protecting Adolf Hitler during his rise until the knight of the long knifes where Adolf Hitler turns on him – he believes he will turn on him.
The Reichstag Fire – In scene 7 – warehouse fire – Reichstag fire – gasoline tanks seen being taken out – fire is noticed and announced in the room- suggestion of self-inflicted – gun held up to say they did not see the gasoline cans. – later in the script in scene 10 UI states “the fire was a success”
Reichstag fire had two conspiracies’ one was that it was set on fire by the oppositions and the other was self-inflicted. Key event – Because of the fire Adolf Hitler could urge Paul von Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree – because it was evidence against the German government – this meant arresting all communists leaving the Nazi Party in power.
Style – Brechtian theatre also known as Epic theatre – making audience member think what was happening without getting emotionally involved. – making the audience question what’s happening on stage therefore hiding the emotions.
The use of signs during the show- someone changing a placard to name a scene or place- even crew
Breaking the fourth wall.(Explain fourth wall) to come out into the theatre itself. Explore the theatre
Brecht insisted on having the theatre bright, not only so the actors could break the forth wall – obvious to the audience member not to be part of the play.
Demonstration of style in the play is the usage of signs at the start of each scene- By comparing the rise of Adolf Hitler to the gangster Grocery trade the audience member is already trying to figure out the story which makes them not get emotionally involved.- Conveying moral message.
Set/props – Minimal set- but representational – symbolic props- (Food cart as an example)
Lighting – simple- harsh white light – Illuminates the truth – not colouring anything/hiding the truth
Not to overshadow the message of the work- Keeping the theatre bright- still see production crew
Songs remind audience that it is a show- music and lyrics jar and do not fit together- this makes the audience think- not sing a long (emotionally involved)
Another type of performance of the time
Expressionism - Rebel against Realism and naturalism- believed focus on the inner qualities of the protagonist (main part) whereas realism and naturalism just covered the surface detail – Expressionism often involved performing to find the truth with a plot holding a message at the centre of what going on-
Set did not define location- distorted shapes and lines- garish colours-
Only lighting key areas of the stage – deliberate use of shadow
Style – Brechtian Theatre
Set – keep it simple – to cover most scenes - Deck centre stage – steps all sides – office set up behind deck- office covers all scenes by moving chairs/scenary/props. The main scenes – Office – hotel lobby- hotel bedroom- trial (court room)- garage – flower shop.
Hotel Performance area 2 Trial (Court room) Performance area 1
Props – Prop heavy – not symbolic props – Big props to influence the scene
Personal props – Gun, holster
Lighting – Keep it simple – Generic rig - open white - Theatre bright
Sound – Band – Pa system – electric band?? – Radio mics (depending on how big theatre)
AV- Signage- placards- screen projection – no back drop but could project something – Fire
Pyrotechnics- Gunshots/warehouse fire
Stage Management implications – show crew to shift furniture on performance area 2
Costume - 1940 gangster – simple – Pin stripe suits – Fedora hats – braces- Smart shoes
Book – Prussian Junkers – Ernst Rohm killed- warehouse fire (conspiracy theories)
FIFA Scandal – Morocco got the 2010 world cup vote- not south Africa – Bribes where paid in excess of 10million pound- chairman refused any knowledge- for the finance to happen only a select few could take this action.
Quote from Into the book - “governments are not the same league as Hitler’s Reich. But what does live on is the mindless violence of the hoodlum, which has now spread a great deal further within those very societies, to haunt the football terraces”
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