Exam #1 for Understanding Theater

Question 1

What is theater? Define “theatron”

Answer 1

“Theatron” means “seeing place”

Question 2

What is theater? Define “Drama”

Answer 2

“Drama” means “a thing done”

Question 3

Define Audience

Answer 3

“those who listen”

Question 4

Summarize the idea of the Empty Space (Peter Brook)

Answer 4

“I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty
space, whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of
theater to be engaged.”
“A stage space has two rules: (1) Anything can happen and (2) Something must happen.”

Question 5

Theatre as transitory & immediate

Answer 5

Theatre is transitory. Every production is different. Every performance of that production is different.
Theatre is immediate. Requires live interaction with an audience. The production is only half of the equation; the audience is the other half.

Question 6

What is a play?

Answer 6

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Question 7

What are the purposes of theatre?

Answer 7

The purposes of theatre are to entertain, educate, create community, and to disturb/disrupt

Question 8

Define conflict

Answer 8

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Question 9

What are Aristotle’s six elements of drama (see Cohen pp. 28-32)

Answer 9

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Question 10

Climactic/linear vs. episodic/circular structure (see handout on Blackboard under Content – “Climactic and Episodic Structure”)

Answer 10

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Question 11

Define tragedy

Answer 11

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Question 12

Define comedy

Answer 12

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Question 13

Define melodrama

Answer 13

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Question 14

Define verbatim theatre/docudrama

Answer 14

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Question 15

Review characteristics of ancient Greek theatre & acting style (Cohen p. 185-188)

Answer 15

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Question 16

Plot summary of OEDIPUS REX

Answer 16

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Question 17

Define representational vs. presentational (pp. 15-16)

Answer 17

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Question 18

Plot summary of TWELFTH NIGHT

Answer 18

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Question 19

Cover these key concepts and figures of realism (pp. 207-215):
Émile Zola
Henrik Ibsen
August Strindberg
Purpose & Conventions

Answer 19

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Question 20

Script analysis includes style, form (structure and tone), and dramatic action. Cover the principles of style.

Answer 20

The relationship between the play and reality.
The means of sharing a vision of reality.
Gives coherence to the rules of the world of the play and the conventions employed by
the playwright.
Generally spoken of in terms of “isms.” (Realism, Naturalism, Romanticism, etc.)
Personal style can operate within an established style.

Question 21

Script analysis includes style, form (structure and tone), and dramatic action. Cover the principles of form.

Answer 21

Tonal form equates to genre; the tone/attitude of the play.

Structural form – how a play organizes itself in time and space – climactic or episodic.

Question 22

Script analysis includes style, form (structure and tone), and dramatic action. Cover the principles of dramatic action.

Answer 22

What happens in a play; there is beginning, middle, and end to an action
“What is the driving force taking this play from beginning to end?”
The dramatic action is the commanding form of the play, expressing the soul of the play
and informing all choices.

Question 23

DIRECTING (see p. 136 – “Directors of Realism”). Cover these figures:
Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen
André Antoine
Théâtre Libre
The Director’s Concept (see pp. 145-149 “Conceptualizing the Production”)

Answer 23

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Question 24

Plot summary of DEATH OF A SALESMAN

Answer 24

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Question 25

What are the actor’s three tools?

Answer 25

body, voice, and imagination

Question 26

Cover Constantin Stanislavski & Stanislavski’s System (see “External & Internal Methods,” pp. 38-41)

Answer 26

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Question 27

Cover Uta Hagen’s essential questions

Answer 27

Who am I?
What are the circumstances?
What are my relationships?
What do I want?
What is my obstacle?
What do I do to get what I want?

Question 28

What is the function of the audience?

Answer 28

Audience is a participant-not observer -in the theatrical event; their presence affects performance

Question 29

There are two types of audiences. What are they? Give a brief description of both.

Answer 29

Empathetic (Complete feeling for the character or situation) vs. distanced (Critical or intellectual engagement only; no emotional response)

Question 30

What are some of the means of critical engagement that an audience can partake in?

Answer 30

Both generous and critical
Appreciates and evaluates what it sees
Willingly suspends disbelief, but not taste or judgment

Question 31

Generally, what does a theatrical designer do? (see pp. 82-83)

Answer 31

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Question 32

Specifically, what does the scenic, costume, lighting designer do? (refer to relevant sections in
Chapter 5)

Answer 32

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Question 33

Tools of human behavior – dialogue and physical action

What are the qualities of a play (as described in chapter 5)

Answer 33

Credibility
Intrigue
Speakability
Stageability
Flow

Question 34

Additional Question #1:

Answer 34

In the interaction between production and audience member, how and when is meaning
made? How is it possible that a performance can elicit varying responses among audience
members?

Question 35

Additional Question #2:

Answer 35

Be prepared to name a play you believe the Department of Theatre should produce. In
addition, be prepared to offer the reason(s) you believe the show would be worthwhile. (Note:
this likely means that you should spend a bit of time online browsing plays. You might look
through offerings at the major theatrical publishing houses: Dramatists Play Services, Samuel
French, and Music Theatre International are a few useful sources.)