Staging and Directions

In the medieval times, theatre still wasn't anywhere near what it is today, but they did start to have extensive staging and stage directions. Whilst reading Nagler, I came across a couple very interesting passages, stating things about not only the stage itself, but what the actors where doing and where they should do it.

"Let Paradise be set up in a somewhat lofty place; let there be put about it curtains and silken hangings, at such an height that those persons who shall be in Paradise can be seen from the shoulders upward; let there be planted sweet-smelling flowers and foliage; let divers trees be therein, and fruits hanging upon them, so that it may seem a most delectable place.
Then let the Savior come, clothed in a dalmatic, and let Adam and Eve be set before him,. Let Adam be clothed in a red tunic; Eve, however, in a woman's garment of white, and a white silken wimple; and let them both stand before the Figure; but Adam a little nearer, with composed countenance; Eve, however, with countenance a little more subdued.
And let Adam himself be well instructed when he shall make his answers, lest in answering he be either too swift or too slow. Let not only Adam, but all the persons, be so instructed that they shall speak composedly and shall use such gestures as become the matter whereof they are speaking; and in uttering the verses, let them neither add a syllable nor take away, but let them pronounce all clearly; and let those things that are to be said be said in their due order. Whoever shall speak the name of Paradise, let him look back at it and point it out with his hand (Nagler pg. 45)."


For us in the modern day, this isn't written down to be kept so much as to be remembered by the actors for the production. Where we usually have minimal notes on what is happening on stage when there is no talking done, there are plenty of specific notes written for the actors because these people are not professionals and are in fact everyday people. I personally find it interesting to read these early staging directions, because it gives us insight on how simple these plays really were in comparison to the ones we have these days.