Exam 1 review Flashcards
Realism/Naturalism
Broad, still theatre-not completely real, attempting to present people, places, and events corresponding to everyday life
Non-realism
All types of theatre that depart from observable reality, a departure from realism
Expressionism
An attempy to depict the subjective (based on feelings/opinions) state of a character through nonrealistic tendencies, e.g. distortion, striking images, poetics
Heightened Realism
AKA selective realism, plays in which characters (and their actions) resemble real life, but there is some parts that do not
Collective Mind
A group must assemble at one time and one place, sharing a common experience while focusing on one activity
Immersive Theatre/Participatory Theatre
Audience members play an active role in some way, audience is acting/participating with the actors
Aesthetic Distance
A physical or psychologyical separation/detachment of audience from dramatic action, sometimes considered necessary,
Flashback
Abrupt moments from the present to the past and back again, used to show a scene or event
Anachronism
Placing a character or event outside its proper time sequence
Symbol
A sign, token, or emblem that signifies something else. EX: single image -> an indea/larger concept, flag -> a nation
Metaphor
Used to draw a connection between two seemingly not similiar things. EX: “all the world’s a stage”
Soliloquy
The speech in which a character onstage steaks their inner thoughts outloud, either alone on stage or with others who are keeping quiet
Pantomime
A form of theatrical presentation that relies on dance, gesture, adn physical movement without speech, acting without words-the art of silence
Theatre of Fact
Willing Suspension of Disbelief
To purposefully put aside most thoughts about reality, to not take what you’re watching legitamately, there’s no need for skepticism, knowing what you’re watching is not real but chosing to believe it for the time being
Broadway
The oldest professional theatre in NYC, plays being performed in large theatres in the district near Times Square
Off-Broadway
Started in 1950s, located outside of the Times Square area, less expensive, smaller theatres
Off-off-Broadway
Small independent groups, produced a large variety of productions wherever inexpensive space was available , wx: churches, lofts, warehouses, basements
Regional Theatre
AKA Resident Professional Theatre, presentation of high-quality professional productions to local residents, all high-calibre (performers, directors, designers),
Community Theatre
AKA Amateur Theatre, semi-professional/non-professional theatres serving local communities, the actors/directors/designers/crew may have professional training but are not pursuing it as a full-time career, often include amateurs
Critic
Someone who observes theatre and then analyzes and comments on it, they serve as a knowlegeable audience member, can share information from the POV of a spectator , write serious articles in newspapers/magazines/books
Reviewer
Reports on what has occured at the theatre, usually works for newspaper/magazine/TV station, describes the plot/whether or not the show is worth seeings, often restricted by time, space or both
Dramaturg / Literary Manager
The “Dramatic Advisor”, to discover and research promising new plays, gets the historical context of the play, researches the critisisms and interpretations of other showings of that play
Proscenium
The frame or arch surrounding the stage oppening in a box or picture stage, it is shaped in such a way that the audience watched the play as it would regard a picture
Arena Stage
AKA circle theatre/theatre-in-the-round, A stage that is entirely surrounded by the audience
Thrust Stage
Stage space that thrusts into the audience space, a stage surrounded on 3 sides by audience seating. EX: set up for Everybody (performed on stage last year)
Black Box
A theatre space that is open, flexible, and adaptable, typically without fixed seating, audience configuration can be rearranged to how the individual requirements see fit
Fourth Wall
In a proscenium-arch Theatre, the feeling that the auidence is looking through an invisible fourth-wall
Front of House
The portion of the reserved for the audience, sometimes known just as ‘the hosue’
Rake
the upward slope of the stage floor OR positioning the scenery at an angle other than parallel or perpendicular to the curtain line
Orchestra
A circular playing space in ancient Greek theatres, (mondernly) the ground-floor seating in the auditorium
Box
A small private compartment for a group of spectators built into the walls of theatres. EX: part on back wall of Olin Theatre, entrance is door to steps in Olin lobby)
Created / Found Space
Non-theatrical Areas that are converted into theatre spaces, the ability to effectively create a theatre in any context
Site-Specific Theatre
Street Theatre
Performance in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience
Multifocus Theatre
An evironment in which there is more than one performing area, can contain different lighting for each/different sets/characters. EX: The getting ready for Prom song (The Night of Nights) in High School Musical when the stage is turning to the different areas
Imitation
To stimulate or copy the behavior that is observed in real life, to act like someone/something
Magic If
Constantine Stanislavski’s acting exercise that requires the actor to ask, “How would I react if I were in this character’s position?”
Superobjective
What the character(s) wants to acheive overall, above all else in the play, their own final/end of play goal
Relaxation
Constantine Stanislaski’s form of describing that an actor should always be as mindful of their own body as possible when performing/about to perform, that actor must always be relaxed or they may messed up/get disctracted/lose their place
Inner Truth
To use the “Magic If” in practice, thinking of the psychology of the character, putting yourself into the mindset of the character you are performing as, asking yourself, “What if I were…”
Through Line
Developed by Constanting Stanislavsky, A way of analyzing the action of a play through beats and superobjectives
Emotional Recall
Contantine Stanisklavsky, an exercise that helps the performer present realistic emotions, the actor recalls the emotion needed in a scene by thinking back to a moment in their real life when they felt the same way
Ensemble Playing
The acting that stressed the total artistic unity of a group performance rather than the individual performance
Constantine Stanislavski
Developed a system of how different styles of acting are taught, System includes: Relaxation, Concentration and Observation, Given Circumstances, Inner Truth (Magic If), Action Onstage, Throught-line, Ensemble Playing
“The Poetics” by Aristotle
Known as one of the foundations of Greek tragedy, has 4 parts: 1) Plot - The action 2 )Character - People doing the action 3) Theme - What the play (in order of importance) is about 4) Language - how the theme is worked out 5) Music 6) Spectacle - Costumes. Characters with noble/high-status, the tragic hero and the tragic flaw, a climactic structure, well-made plays
Aristotle
Greek Philosopher, 4th century BCE, educator, Wrote the book “The Poetics”, brings ideas of Climactic plot structure and well-made plays
Plot
The arrangement of events of the selection and order of scenes in a play, arranged for maximum dramatic impact, the action of a play
Obstacles
That which delats or prevents the achieving of a goal by a character, it creates a complication and a conflict, one part of Through-line
Complications
Introduction of a new force which creates a new balance of power and entails a delay in reaching the climax
Crisis
A point ina play when events and opposing forces are at a crucial moment, and when the course of further action will be determined
Climax
The highpoint in the development of a dramatic plot
Episodic Structure/Drama
Expands the action of the play, at a range of locations, opposite of climactic sturcture. EX: the Star Wars universe)
Climactic Structure
Has specific guidelines, there are no loose ends at the end, smaller # of characters, limited # of longer segments, a clear beginning middle and end, “well-made plays”
Exposition
Information necessary for an understanding of the story, not covered by onstage action, must be introduced so the audience can understand the characters/plot
Well-made plays
19th & 20th c, clear/linear structure, a build-up of ssupense, a climactic scene where all problems are solved and a happy ending
Subplot/Parallel Plot
A secondary plot that reinforces or runs parallel to the major plot. EX: Young snape relationship with Harry’s mother being shown while the rest of the movie is about Harry and the Half-Blood Prince
Stock Characters
Two-dimensional, the stereotypical characters. EX: a dumb blonde, a mean step-parents, the loyal servant, etc.
Extraordinary Characters
Characters that are: larger than life, noble, historically significant, hereos, etc.
Representative Characters
These are characters with everyday life types, ‘normal’ people, typical
Protagonist
The principal character in a play, the one who is drama is about. EX: The soccer team in The Wolves, Harry Potter in the movies, Frye in Futurama
Antagonist
The opponent of the protagonist, can be a single person/an idea/an obstacle
Genre
Meaning category, into which a play falls. EX: Tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, etc.
Tragedy
Greece 5th c BCE, Aristotle descsribes them in “The Poetics”, a serious drama in which there is a downfall to the primary character
Modern Tragedy
late 19th c, focused around everyday families/conflicts, conflicts come directly from the characters adn their lives rather than law/divine power/nobles. EX: La casa de Bernarda Alba-conflicts between the daughters and their relation with each other as well as their mother
Domestic Drama
mid 19th c, the start of when the middle class start going to theatre productions, focused on the family (hence the domestic), it is realistic (believeable, represents real life)
Domestic Comedy
The counterpart of domestic tragedy, rather than focusing on the sad/upsetting side of life, it focuses on lighter subjects
Melodrama
1802, plays with dialouge that has been set to music, NOT a musical, the music tends to highlight actions/emotional moments, characters aren’t that complex, easily defined as good/bad. EX: Shark music from Jaws, The Imperial March for Darth Vader.
Comedy
Will end happily, almost no death, there is a Suspension of Natural Law (a character can fly/can survive a large fall), shows the worst of humanity, has physical and verbal humor, contains plot complications
Farce
A subclass of comedy with emphasis on exaggerated plot complications
Satire
A form of comedy, uses irony and exaggeration to attack and expose
Tragicomedy
The Renaissance: has tragic themes and noble characters but with a happy ending. Today: in which serious and comedic elements are integrated, a comedic/ironic treatment of a more serious theme
What are the actor’s primary tools?
The Mind/Imagination, Body, Voice
Steps in the process of preperations for a theatre productions. (taken by actors)
- Making the characters believable- the inner truth 2. The physical acting- the use of the voice and body 3. Synthesis and Integration-combining all skills into one, inner and outer
