2nd semester Flashcards
Examples of theatres that have been created or sustained by governments or ruling elites include all of the following EXCEPT the
theatre of the absurd
Theatre can be seen as entertainment
in all cases
Which of the following is the journalist critic’s principal job qualification?
writing ability
All plays and play productions can be usefully analyzed and evaluated on the way they use the theatrical format to the best advantage and make us rethink the nature of theatrical production(T or F)
True
Generally the playwright is more intelligent and better informed than the members of the audience.(T or F)
False
A play’s final repository is
the minds and memories of its audiences.
The discipline of performance studies draws from what other scholarly field?
anthropology
Plays that deal with theatrical matter not simply as a vehicle but as a theme are called
metadrama or metatheatre.
An audience member’s aesthetic sensibility and response is
a composite of many individual reactions and therefore subjective.
Performance studies is a form of criticism that rates the “performance” of different plays based on how “perform-able” they are.(T or F)
False
Performance studies is a form of criticism that rates the “performance” of different plays based on how “perform-able” they are.(T or F)
False
Why is the theatre in a strong position to force and focus public confrontation with social issues?
Most productions do not act as propaganda but present the issues in all their complexity as food for thought and as such focus public debate, stimulate dialogue, and turn public attention and compassion to important issues.
What form does professional dramatic criticism take?
production reviews, scholarly works, and online blogs and journals.
What word fits the definition of “that which holds the attention”?
entertainment
The public form of play analysis following a production is called
dramatic criticism.
The presence of a critical focus in the audience has the effect of keeping the theatre
honest
A play’s relation to the individual stems from the fact that the best plays
link up with our deepest musings and help us to put our unconnected ideas into some sort of order or philosophy.
The journalist’s review generally is
limited to a brief, immediate reaction written within a few days of seeing the performance.
Elizabeth I was part of what is known as the Royal era, often inviting William Congreve to produce plays at the royal residence.(T or F)
False
Which of the following can NOT be said of Shakespeare?
He wrote only for the court of Elizabeth I.
The Royal era was characterized by the aristocracy’s support of public theatres, such as the Globe Theatre.(T or F)
False
Which of the following is NOT true of the Greek chorus?
It offered individual the opportunity to voice personal opinions.
The work of Shakespeare and Ben Jonson in England and Machiavelli and commedia dell’arte in Italy are all examples of Renaissance theatre.(T or F)
True
Kabuki is mainly a director’s theatre.(T or F)
False
Playwrights of the Romantic era include all of the following EXCEPT
Pedro Calderón.
Plays of the royal theatre era are characterized by
rational sensibilities.
The most comprehensive and detailed theatrical treatise of the ancient world, detailing analyses of dramatic texts, the theatre building, acting, staging, music, and even theatre-company organization, is
the Sanskrit Natyasastra, or “treatise on theatre” (begun in the second century a.d.).
A mansion is _________________ in medieval theatre
a temporarily crafted stage piece that was set up in a public square and then moved about from day to day.
Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides are the three masters of Greek tragedy.(T or F)
True
Which Renaissance-era theatre building has been recently (1997) restored as a functioning performing space?
The globe
In Mandarin, Chinese Opera is called xiqu, which means
“tuneful theatre”
According to the book, historically, traditional drama began when
spoken drama was introduced into shamanistic rites.
Which country is the home of the oldest continuous theatre tradition?
Chin
The “medieval era” describes the period of history
between the fall of Rome and the coming of the Renaissance.
The word kabuki
derives fromkabuku, meaning “askew”, and refers to a style of behavior that might today be called “hip” or “punk”.
Medieval mystery plays were performed only in Latin.t or F
False
Which production introduced full frontal nudity to the musical form?
hair
Musical theatre evolved initially as a revolt against other forms of theatre, particularly realism.(T or F)
False