Plot
Name the couple from Night Vision
Ayanna and Ezra
Name two of the four staging configurations covered in lecture.
Proscenium, Arena/Round, Thrust, Site-Specific/Found Space.
Define Comedy.
Confusion to Wedding OR the fortunes of the central character rise by the end of the play.
What is subtext?
meaning that is implied or even explicit that does not match (or complicates) the words being spoken
Name the play - "The stage is empty. We hear the sound of the door being locked, then the carriages as they drive away. It grows very quiet. In the silence, we hear the occasional sound of an ax chopping down the cherry trees."
The Cherry Orchard
Name 4 of the 7 Production Elements in Barbara Clayton's Lecture.
Scenery, Acting, Spatial Relationships, Costumes, Sound, Lighting, Audience
Define Tragedy.
Threat to Disunion OR the fortunes of the central character fall by the end of the play.
A tragic flaw or sometimes an error in judgement that contributes to a character’s downfall.
This man is the King of Thebes at the end of Oedipus the King
Kreon
Theatre = People and Objects OR Actor + Idea + Audience/Time
Define Tragicomedy.
A dramatic work that blends both tragic and comedic elements.
What is the fourth wall?
A theatrical convention that there is an invisible, imaginary “wall” that separates actors from an audience.
Lady Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest
Name the five tips Jen has given you when it comes to How to Read a Play.
Title, Character Descriptions/Breakdown, Setting, Playwright, Opening and Closing Moments
Name the performance style that is performer focused and makes the audience passive observers.
Representational
What is an epigram?
Epigrams invert traditional platitudes through clever turns of phrase.
Ex: “Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone.”
Name the playwright - "I believe in the American theatre. I believe in its power to inform about the human condition, I believe in its power to heal."
August Wilson
Name Aristotle's Six Elements of Drama
Plot, Character, Thought, Language, Music, Spectacle
This genre is defined as "employ[ing] exaggerated characters and situations" and "uses visual images, language, symbols, and situations from the model of the parody"
Satire
What is a dramaturg?
A dramaturg is a literary expert who helps theater productions by providing research, analysis, and context. They work with playwrights, directors, actors, and designers to ensure the production is accurate and high quality.