drama definitions

Question 1

act

Answer 1

to perform in a play (verb)

a division of a play (noun)

Question 2

acting area

Answer 2

the area of the stage where actors perform

Question 3

backstage

Answer 3

the offstage area hidden from the audience that is used for storage, preparation, and stage technicians

Question 4

blackout

Answer 4

an extinguishing of the stage lights, often at the end of a scene

Question 5

blocking

Answer 5

• the specific staging of a play’s movements– precise indications of where actors are to move
• (improv) rejecting information or ideas offered by another actor

Question 6

breaking character

Answer 6

when actors do or say something inconsistent with their character

Question 7

business

Answer 7

the minute physical behaviour of an actor

Question 8

caricature

Answer 8

a character portrayed very broadly and in a stereotypical fashion

Question 9

character

Answer 9

a “person” in a play, played by an actor

Question 10

climax

Answer 10

the point of highest tension in a play

Question 11

cheating out

Answer 11

to turn or face more towards the audience

Question 12

comedy

Answer 12

a funny play

a play that ends happily

Question 13

convention

Answer 13

a theatrical custom that the audience accepts without thought

Question 14

cue

Answer 14

the signal that indicates a change of any kind during a performance

Question 15

denouement

Answer 15

the final scene(s) in a play devoted to tying up loose ends after the climax

Question 16

dialogue

Answer 16

the speeches (delivered to one another) of the characters of the play

Question 17

drama

Answer 17

the art of the theatre

Question 18

expectation

Answer 18

refers to the character’s expectation of succeeding in achieving his/her goal
what the character thinks will happen

Question 19

focus

Answer 19

• the place where the audience is to look

- staying in character, even with distraction

Question 20

fourth wall

Answer 20

the imaginary wall which separates the audience from the stage

Question 21

genre

Answer 21

a distinctive class or category of play

Question 22

goal

Answer 22

what the character wants

Question 23

house lights

Answer 23

the lights in the area of theatre where the audience sits

Question 24

inciting action

Answer 24

in play construction, the single action that initiates the major conflict of the play

Question 25

intermission

Answer 25

a pause in the action during which the audience may leave their seats for a short time

Question 26

mime

Answer 26

a stylized art of acting without words

Question 27

motivation

Answer 27

that which can be construed to have determined a character’s behaviour

Question 28

musical

Answer 28

a generic name for a play with a large number of songs, particularly when there is also dancing

Question 29

objective

Answer 29

the basic goal of a character

Question 30

obstacle

Answer 30

refers to what stops the character from achieving their goal

Question 31

off book

Answer 31

meaning you have memorized your lines and do not need to look at your script while performing

Question 32

onstage

Answer 32

• inside the acting area

- towards the center line

Question 33

plot

Answer 33

the events of a play

Question 34

prompt

Answer 34

feeding an actor their forgotten lines

Question 35

proscenium theatre

Answer 35

a rectangular- roomed theatre with the audience on one end and the stage on the other

Question 36

protagonist

Answer 36

the principal character

Question 37

rehearsal

Answer 37

the gathering of actors and director to put a play into production

Question 38

rising action

Answer 38

escalating action

Question 39

scene

Answer 39

• the period of stage time representing a single space over a continuous period of time
• the locale where the events of the play are presumed to take place
• scenery, scene design

Question 40

script

Answer 40

a play’s text as used in and prior to play production

Question 41

setting

Answer 41

the fixed stage scenery

Question 42

stage direction

Answer 42

scene description, blocking instruction, general directorial comments

Question 43

tableau

Answer 43

a “frozen moment” onstage

Question 44

tactics

Answer 44

refers to the methods the character uses to achieve their goal