Theatre 161 midterm

Which of the following filled the role of the modern director in England from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century? A) actor-managers B) stage managers C) playwright-managers D) house managers

A) actor-managers

When all of the elements of a production come together to simulate an actual performance, it is known as A) dress rehearsal. B) technical rehearsal. C) first run-through. D) opening night.

A) dress rehearsal.

The ______ director is interested in the taking apart of the text or what may be called deconstruction. A) postmodern B) auteur C) traditional D) non-traditional

A) postmodern

Which of the following best defines the idea of the "director's concept"? A) the controlling or central vision that unifies a production B) the director's idea of which actors should be cast in a play C) both the controlling or central vision that unifies a production, and the director's idea of which actors should be cast D) None of these answers is correct.

A) the controlling or central vision that unifies a production

True or false? Allegory is a representation of an abstract theme or subject through symbolic characters, actions, or other elements of a production. A) true B) false

A) true

True or false? Naturalism attempts to put onstage as exact a copy of life as possible. A) true B) false

A) true

True or false? Put simply, the term "expressionism" means to give outward expression to inner feelings. A) true B) false

A) true

Which of the following best describes the role of the theatre director? A) a person who designs every aspect of the production B) a person who works most closely with the actors, collaborates with designers, and serves to unify a production C) a person who tells the actors where to move D) a person who handles the financial aspects of a production

B) a person who works most closely with the actors, collaborates with designers, and serves to unify a production

A _____ director uses the text for his/her own artistic purposes rather than interpret the work of the playwright. A) postmodern B) auteur C) traditional D) non-traditional

B) auteur

When the director deliberately puts someone who does not appear to be right for the part in a role, it is known as A) typecasting. B) casting against type. C) blocking. D) character acting.

B) casting against type

When all of the design elements and props come together with the actors for the first time, it is known as A) dress rehearsal. B) technical rehearsal. C) first run-through. D) opening night.

B) technical rehearsal.

Of the following, which best defines the term "blocking"? A) the director's vision of where the furniture will go B) the director's vision of where the actors will move C) the process by which a play is rehearsed D) None of these answers is correct.

B) the director's vision of where the actors will move

The first person to be officially called a director in 1874 was A) Bertolt Brecht. B) Konstantin Stanislavsky. C) George II, duke of Saxe-Meiningen. D) Aeschylus.

C) George II, duke of Saxe-Meiningen.

Who revolutionized the process of realistic acting as well as the training of actors? A) Henrik Ibsen B) Denis Diderot C) Konstantin Stanislavsky D) François Delsarte

C) Konstantin Stanislavsky

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of a director's preparation? A) choosing a script B) determining a style C) raising money D) finding a central or controlling image

C) raising money

The term "casting" refers to which of the following? A) the choosing of designers B) the choosing of a script C) the choosing of actors D) the choosing of theatre spaces

C) the choosing of actors

As it relates to directing, what is "visual composition"? A) the arrangement of the lights onstage B) the arrangement of the set onstage C) the physical arrangement of the performers onstage D) the design of the costumes

C) the physical arrangement of the performers onstage

Of the following, which are responsibilities of the commercial producer? A) raising money to finance the production B) securing script rights C) renting the theatre space D) All these answers are correct.

D) All these answers are correct

The director needs to make sure which of the following is appropriate when putting on a production? A) movement B) pace C) rhythm D) All these answers are correct.

D) All these answers are correct.

Which of the following is considered an auteur director? A) Julie Taymor B) Robert Wilson C) Anne Bogart D) All these answers are correct.

D) All these answers are correct.

A director who significantly alters and transforms the scripted material in order to shape every aspect of a production and who believes that the text should serve his or her purposes is known as a(n) A) autonomous director. B) unilateral director. C) classical director. D) auteur director.

D) auteur director.

In a nonprofit theatre, the role of producer is performed by A) the director. B) the executive director. C) the managing director. D) both the executive and the managing director

D) both the executive and the managing director

Multicultural casting is a hallmark of this kind of director. A) autonomous B) auteur C) traditional D) postmodern

D) postmodern

In the Stanislavsky system, what is referred to as the extent or range of an actor's concentration? A) the inner truth B) the magic "if" C) the given circumstances D) the circle of attention

D) the circle of attention

Which of the following is considered a significant period of episodic structure? a. England, late sixteenth and early seventeenth century b. Spain, eighteenth century c. United States, seventeenth century d. All these answers are correct.

a. England, late sixteenth and early seventeenth century

According to Wilson, musical theatre structure involves which two techniques? a. alternation and juxtaposition b. tableau and ritual c. serial and pattern d. rhyme and reason

a. alternation and juxtaposition

Of the following, which type of comedy is concerned with pointing out the foibles and peculiarities of the upper classes and relying heavily on witty phrases to create comic moments? a. comedy of manners b. burlesque c. satire d. domestic comedy

a. comedy of manners

Which of the following structures is best illustrated by the plays of William Shakespeare? a. episodic b. avant-garde c. climactic d. serial

a. episodic

Of the following, which is a type of comedy that thrives on exaggeration in both plot complications and physical humor?its aim being entertainment with no pretensions toward intellectual stimulation? a. farce b. burlesque c. satire d. domestic comedy

a. farce

Along with tragedy, other forms of serious drama include a. heroic drama, domestic drama, and melodrama. b. revenge tragedy, melodrama, and farce. c. melodrama, domestic drama, and satire. d. heroic drama, commedia dell'arte, and domestic drama.

a. heroic drama, domestic drama, and melodrama.

The three primary characteristics of theatre of the absurd are a. illogical plots, language that uses nonsense and non sequitur, and characters that are existential beings. b. cyclical plots, verse language, and stereotypical characters. c. epic plots, sung dialogue, and characters that showcase the working man. d. traditional plot structure, prose language, and characters who are often noble or royal.

a. illogical plots, language that uses nonsense and non sequitur, and characters that are existential beings.

What does Wilson describe as "a repeated sequence of events containing its own order and logic"? a. pattern b. juxtaposition c. ritual d. ceremony

a. pattern

Which of the following does Wilson describe as "the arrangement of events or the selection and order of scenes in a play"? a. plot b. organization c. juxtaposition d. story

a. plot

The main character in a play and his or her chief opponent are known as a. protagonist and antagonist. b. hero and villain. c. hero and protagonist. d. protagonist and villain.

a. protagonist and antagonist.

Of the following character types, which is described as "typical or ordinary"? a. quintessential or representative b. stock c. characters with a dominant trait d. extraordinary

a. quintessential or representative

Spawning a new genre of tragedy, this literary movement celebrates the spirit of hope, personal freedom, and natural instincts. a. romanticism b. symbolism c. futurism d. classicism

a. romanticism

Melodrama was a popular form during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The word "melodrama" has Greek roots, meaning music drama or a. song drama. b. light drama. c. middle drama. d. melody drama.

a. song drama.

Commonly, in comedy, actions do not have the consequences that they do in real life. This characteristic is known as a. suspension of natural laws. b. contrast between the social order and the individual. c. the comic premise. d. suspension of physics.

a. suspension of natural laws.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of traditional tragedy? a. temporary suspension of the natural laws of probability b. the hero or heroine is an extraordinary person such as a king or queen c. the hero or heroine accepts responsibility for his or her actions and also shows an immense capacity for suffering. d. central figures of the play are caught in a series of tragic circumstances

a. temporary suspension of the natural laws of probability

Which two historical periods glorified humanity while exposing the cruelty of life simultaneously, creating the ideal situation for writing tragedy? a. the Greek golden age and the Renaissance b. the age of French neoclassicism and the middle ages c. the middle ages and the Renaissance d. the Greek golden age and the Roman era

a. the Greek golden age and the Renaissance

The word drama is derived from a Greek root, the verb dran, which means a. to do or to act b. to be or mimick c. to perform d. to interpret

a. to do or to act

True or false? An idea or concept that turns the accepted notion of things upside down and becomes the basis of the play is also known as the comic premise. a. true b. false?that describes the comic insight c. false?that is the comic gimmick d. false?that describes the comic ideal

a. true

True or false? Bedroom farce is a form of comedy that uses stock characters and characters with dominant traits. a. true b. false?that describes commedia dell'arte c. false?that describes farce d. false?that describes domestic comedy

a. true

True or false? In the Italian form commedia dell'arte, actors were given a scenario for the play, which they performed by improvising or inventing words and actions. a. true b. false

a. true

True or false? Nonhuman characters are not restricted to animals; they can also be ideas. a. true b. false

a. true

True or false? One of the things determined by point of view is whether a subject is going to be viewed seriously or with humor. a. true b. false

a. true

True or false? Point of view is important to the arts but in a different way than in advertising and politics. Whereas advertisers and politicians try to disguise the fact that they are trying to influence our point of view, artists are very open and direct about attempting to impose a point of view. a. true b. false

a. true

True or false? Theatre of the absurd is a post-World War II form that focused on humanity's sense of alienation and its loss of bearings in an illogical, unjust, and ridiculous world. a. true b. false?that describes the futurist movement c. false?that describes tragicomedy d. false?that describes avant-garde theatre

a. true

True or false? There is a close relationship between theatre and society. It is a relationship that is manifest in what point of view artists take toward their subject matter. a. true b. false

a. true

"To present events as heroic" is a a. viewpoint. b. purpose. c. subject.

a. viewpoint.

Developed by radical or avant-garde theatre, which of the following represents a significant departure from traditional practice? a. emphasis on nonverbal theatre b. reliance on improvisation rather than text c. interest in ritual and ceremony d. importance of the spatial relationship between the performers to the audience

all of the above

Movies use characteristics of melodrama. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the form? a. There are clear-cut issues. b. The main character is never placed in danger. c. Good and evil characters are clearly identified. d. Suspense is strongly emphasized.

b. The main character is never placed in danger.

Which of the following does NOT represent a characteristic of the cumulative effect? a. the impression of events piling up b. a single event, or piece of information c. a rush of events d. a tidal wave of circumstances and emotions

b. a single event, or piece of information

Of the following, what does tragedy attempt to do? a. present violence onstage in an artistic manner b. ask basic questions about human existence c. justify the gods and their role in our lives d. prove that fate controls man and that there is no such thing as free will

b. ask basic questions about human existence

Of the following, which type of comedy is described as a ludicrous imitation of other forms of drama? (The term is also used to describe a type of variety show featuring low comedy skits and attractive women.) a. farce b. burlesque c. satire d. domestic comedy

b. burlesque

Of the following, which type of comedy uses comic techniques to debate intellectual propositions, presenting a particular moral and social point of view? a. farce b. comedy of ideas c. satire d. domestic comedy

b. comedy of ideas

The "crucible of drama" is a. people. b. conflict. c. convention. d. structure.

b. conflict.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of episodic structure? a. people, places, and events proliferate b. construction is tight c. there may be a parallel plot or subplot d. the overall effect is cumulative

b. construction is tight

True or false? Climactic and episodic structure cannot be combined within a play. a. true b. false

b. false

A word that sounds like the right word but means something quite different is known as a(n) a. pun. b. malaprop. c. epigram. d. witticism.

b. malaprop.

Which of the following best describes tragicomedy? a. plays which shift from comic to serious from scene to scene b. plays which have a mixed point of view, melding serious and comic perspectives into one "bittersweet" perspective c. plays which have only one serious scene amidst a comic premise d. plays which use comic devices except physical humor to present a point

b. plays which have a mixed point of view, melding serious and comic perspectives into one "bittersweet" perspective

Of the following character types, which is described as exemplifying "one characteristic to the exclusion of virtually everything else"? a. quintessential or representative b. stock c. characters with a dominant trait d. extraordinary

b. stock

What is one characteristic that distinguishes modern tragedy from traditional tragedy? a. the use of blood and staging devices to present dead bodies b. the use of the common man rather than royalty or nobility as the main characters c. the use of violence onstage as opposed to offstage d. the use of society as the main character

b. the use of the common man rather than royalty or nobility as the main characters

Which Greek play by Aristophanes uses the comic premise that women can withhold sex to keep the men from going to war? a. The Clouds b. The Birds c. Lysistrata d. The Frogs

c. Lysistrata

It is from this work that the term "robot" was first used. a. The Tempest b. Forbidden Planet c. R.U.R d. The Day the Earth Stood Still

c. R.U.R

Of the following, which best describes the role of minor characters? a. the lead characters around whom most of the action takes place b. characters who talk directly to the audience c. characters who play a small part in the overall action d. None of these answers is correct.

c. characters who play a small part in the overall action

Of the following character types, which is described as representing one "humor"? a. quintessential or representative b. stock c. characters with a dominant trait d. extraordinary

c. characters with a dominant trait

Which of the following structures was used in fifth-century Greece, reemerging in France in the seventeenth century, and then in Norway in the nineteenth century? a. episodic b. ritual c. climactic d. serial

c. climactic

Playwrights sometimes introduce a secondary character who may serve as a foil or counterpart to the main character. This best describes which of the following character types? a. protagonist b. extraordinary character c. contrasting character d. narrator

c. contrasting character

Which form of tragedy or serious drama was predominant in the twentieth century? a. traditional tragedy b. heroic drama c. domestic drama d. melodrama

c. domestic drama

True or false? Menander was known for creating nonhuman characters in ancient Greek drama. a. true b. false?it was Aeschylus c. false?it was Aristophanes d. false?it was Sophocles

c. false?it was Aristophanes

What is the primary subject matter of theatre? a. art b. thought c. human beings d. politics

c. human beings

Modern tragedy began a. in the late eighteenth century. b. in the early nineteenth century. c. in the late nineteenth century. d. in the early twentieth century.

c. in the late nineteenth century.

The effect of tragedy is seen in two contradictory responses. One is negative, seeing the world as cruel and uncompromising. The other a. is positive, discovering the nature of human existence. b. is also negative, triggering feelings of anger and rejection in the audience. c. is positive, finding optimism in the manner in which the heroes and heroines meet their fate with dignity. d. is also negative, creating feelings of repulsion for the amount of violence represented onstage.

c. is positive, finding optimism in the manner in which the heroes and heroines meet their fate with dignity.

Which of the following is an element of dramatic structure? a. the opening scene b. crisis and climax c. obstacles and complications d. All these answers are correct.

c. obstacles and complications

Which of the following is "a repetition or reenactment of a proceeding or transaction which has acquired special meaning"? a. pattern b. juxtaposition c. ritual d. ceremony

c. ritual

Of the following, which type of comedy can be described as having more intellectual and moral content than other forms of comedy? This form uses wit, irony, and exaggeration to attack or expose evil and foolishness. a. farce b. burlesque c. satire d. domestic comedy

c. satire

"A static scene onstage featuring performers in costume" is known as a a. segment. b. feature. c. tableau. d. ritual.

c. tableau.

One of the arguments against modern tragedy focuses on a. the use of narrative to create a full sense of the story. b. the use of nonverbal cues to convey information and emotion. c. the inability of prose to articulate the lofty concerns of tragedy. d. the weak nature of the modern man.

c. the inability of prose to articulate the lofty concerns of tragedy.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of climactic structure? a. plot begins late in the story b. scenes, locales, and characters are limited c. there may be several parallel plots and numerous subplots d. construction is tight

c. there may be several parallel plots and numerous subplots

The two types of tragedy are a. serious tragedy and light tragedy. b. ironic tragedy and satirical tragedy. c. traditional tragedy and modern tragedy. d. modern tragedy and postmodern tragedy.

c. traditional tragedy and modern tragedy.

Which of the following is NOT a convention of theatre? a. limited time and space b. strongly opposed forces c. unbalanced forces d. incentive and motivation

c. unbalanced forces

The modern playwright of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century who often employed the tragicomic form is a. Henrik Ibsen. b. August Strindberg. c. George Bernard Shaw. d. Anton Chekhov.

d. Anton Chekhov.

One example of heroic drama in the modern period is by George Bernard Shaw, entitled a. Electra. b. The Cid. c. Cyrano de Bergerac. d. Saint Joan.

d. Saint Joan.

Of the following Shakespearean plays, which is known for effectively exploring plot complications? a. The Tempest b. Much Ado about Nothing c. A Midsummer Night's Dream d. The Comedy of Errors

d. The Comedy of Errors

An early domestic drama was. a. The Orestia by Aeschylus. b. Hamlet by William Shakespeare. c. All My Sons by Arthur Miller. d. The London Merchant by George Lillo.

d. The London Merchant by George Lillo.

The term slapstick refers to a. ironic wit and humor. b. a stick that was fashioned to allow an actor to hit another actor onstage, creating a whacking sound without harming the performer. c. raucous, knockabout comedy. d. a stick used in a raucous, knockabout comedy.

d. a stick used in a raucous, knockabout comedy

Heroic drama differs from tragedy in two ways. The first is in having a happy ending. The second is in a. assuming men and women are called upon to endure suffering. b. assuming a negative approach to individual struggles, resulting in massive onstage violence. c. assuming a pessimistic world view in which all is negative even with a happy ending. d. assuming a basically optimistic worldview even when the ending is sad.

d. assuming a basically optimistic worldview even when the ending is sad.

The final and most significant crisis is referred to as the a. opening scene. b. obstacle. c. complication. d. climax.

d. climax.

Of the following, which type of comedy is much like contemporary television situation comedies and is described as dealing with family situations? a. comedy of ideas b. comedy of manners c. satire d. domestic comedy

d. domestic comedy

Of the following character types, which is described as being "larger than life"? a. quintessential or representative b. stock c. characters with a dominant trait d. extraordinary

d. extraordinary

Of the following character types, which is written specifically to speak directly to the audience? a. stock b. characters with a dominant trait c. extraordinary d. narrator

d. narrator

What is the subject and verb of drama? a. art and creating b. idea and thinking c. politics and change d. people and action

d. people and action

Coronations, weddings, and funerals are examples of what sortof structure? a. serial b. climactic c. tableau d. ritual

d. ritual

According to you textbook which of the following is NOT considered a form of serious theatre? a. traditional tragedy b. domestic drama c. melodrama d. satire

d. satire

Of the following, which is NOT part of the playwright's job description? a. determining the subject matter b. deciding on characters c. deciding what type of play it will be d. securing a performance space

d. securing a performance space

Which of the following does Wilson describe as "a full account of an event, or series of events, usually told in chronological order"? a. plot b. organization c. juxtaposition d. story

d. story

Which of the following is NOT a technique of comedy? a. verbal humor b. comedy of character c. plot complications d. strong emphasis on suspense

d. strong emphasis on suspense

The term bourgeois refers to a. social outcasts. b. artists. c. the middle class. d. the aristocracy.

d. the aristocracy.