Theatre Ch.1-4

WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF

"BITES": LOTS OF INFORMATION COMPETING TO GET HEARD OR SEEN BY LOTS OF PEOPLE

Comedy-

- A play characterized by its humorous tone, in which characters triumph over adversity, and which results in a feeling of amusement in the audience.

tragicomedy

-A play that uses an equal mixture of both tragedy and comedy. - It can evoke polar emotions at the same time. If you attend a tragicomedy, you might feel like laughing and crying at the same time.

what are the sub genres of comedies

-Farce -Satire -Burlesque -comedy of manners -comedy of ideas

burlesque

-Like Farce, Burlesque is a very physical type of comedy. -Burlesque makes fun of other dramatic forms, or specific plays. Relies on physical comedy and risqué content that can be downright vulgar.

Minor Characters are important for several reasons:

-Minor characters do not get the story time that major characters do, but they are vital to understanding the major characters and their story. -When we need to understand what is going on inside the mind of the major character, the minor character becomes the "audience." -Major characters reveal their thoughts and secrets to their friends and family. This allows the audience to have a deeper understanding of the major character. Horatio was Hamlet's best friend and confidant; their conversations allow us to understand Hamlet and his motives. We might even say that we see Hamlet through the eyes of Horatio -- from his point of view.

What are the components of a theatre space

-Place where performance takes place -Design and Technical elements: a.) Lighting b.) Sound c.) Set/Scenery/Props d.) Costumes/Make-up

style can be divided into two categories

-Realism -Anit Realism

medieval mystery play episodic structure

-THE PLOT CAN TAKE PLACE OVER SEVERAL DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS, EVEN YEARS -THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF CHARACTERS -THE PLOT BEGINS EARLY IN THE STORY -THERE CAN BE SEVERAL SUB-PLOTS OR PARALLEL PLOTS -THE PLAY CAN TAKE PLACE OVER SEVERAL LOCATIONS

tragedy episodic structure

-THE PLOT TAKES PLACE WITHIN 24 HOURS OR A COUPLE OF DAYS AT THE MOST. -CHARACTERS ARE RESTRICTED TO FEW -THERE ARE NO SUB-PLOTS OR PARALLEL PLOTS -THE PLOT BEGINS LATE IN THE STORY, CLOSE TO THE CLIMAX AND IS LINEAR -THE PLOT USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN ONE LOCATION

Where does the playwright start?

-The imagination -personal experiences -history

Tragedy can be divided into two categories

-Traditional plays -Modern

Tragedy allows us to ask questions about the human condition like...

-What greatness are we capable of? -How much suffering can we endure? -What greatness are we willing to tap into to overcome suffering?

George Bernard Shaw was

-a brilliant theatre and music critic, and a writer of prose, essays, and drama. -the only person to be awarded both a Nobel Prize and an Oscar -born in Ireland but lived in England

A reviewer may not necessarily have the ____________ in theatre study that a critic has.

-background

Reviewers can have the same ___________ as critics but perhaps work for a publication or network with ________ space to do anything more than give a ________ _____________ of the production.

-background -little -brief overview

One of the major differences between traditional and modern tragedy is the

-characters involved and the format in which it is written.

Conflict

-essential to plot - Conflict and complications cause interest in the play. We then invest ourselves in the story.

Heroic drama

-has tragic elements, but with an uplifting feeling in the end. -Even if the hero dies, we feel the death is not in vain. - A serious play but doesn't fit the classic rules of tragedy -The hero is usually depicted taking up a grand romantic, political, or religious cause. Because he or she will put reputation, comfort, or life on the line to fight for what is deemed "right", the audience feels good about the ending.

why is it important to be on time to a play?

-important information is given in the first two scenes. -theatrical conventions are established. -characters are introduced -style is established

Someone with a degree in ____________ may get a job as a theatre reviewer

-journalism

Comedy of Manners

-makes fun of a particular social class or set. -Like satire, it relies on verbal wit. -These plays made fun of the very people (wealthy people) who made up the overwhelming majority of the audience. -English Playwrights knew King Charles II loved theatre. He saw Parisian theatre and was influenced by Louis XIV's court. This created an atmosphere in Charles' court of flamboyant behavior---being seen at the theatre was, for the most part, more important than actually seeing the production. The aristocracy reveled in this "ill-mannered" homage.

To get to the super objective, _______ _______ and _______are put it in place to create _______ and make it an interesting journey.

-mini-objectives and obstacles -conflict

A stock character is a

-one-dimensional character. -not fleshed out, as a realistic character would be -they aren't very realistic so we don't really empathize with them or worry about them

Avant-garde plays very often offer no _______ nor do they have a clear _________, _________, or ________. Usually, the characters end up ________ ________ _________.

-resolution -beginning, middle, or end -Where they began

Genres that don't quite fit into comedy or tragedy:

-tragicomedy -Heroic Drama

Comedies of Ideas

-uses comedy to bring to light social and political issues.

Farce

-uses physical comedy with character confusion, plot mix-ups, and sexual innuendo as its main conventions. -characters are usually one-dimensional and bring about full laughter.

Satire

-uses wit and irony to attack the folly of humankind. - Satire is less physical than farce and relies more on verbal wit for its humor. -The characters are usually one-dimensional, as in farce, and physical humor is often part of satire. -its goal is to point out the short-comings of man. This usually means taking on social and political issues.

A critic can _______ ______ ________, and a reviewer can ________ ________ when reviewing a play.

-write a review -use criticism

characteristics of Anti-Realism

1) Dialogue can be unrealistic. 2) Actors will speak, move, act in various ways. 3) The set can be minimal or outrageous. Color, line, and fabric can be used in any way. 4) Costumes do not have to look like real clothing. 5) Lighting can be representational (as in The Lion King), used for visibility only, or create a dream-like setting.

what are the three main reasons to attend theatre?

1) Entertainment 2) Communal Interaction 3) Gain knowledge and insight

what are the characteristics of Realism?

1) The dialogue will be written to sound like normal conversation. 2) The actors will speak, move and act as if the characters they are portraying are real people. 3) The set will resemble real settings; a living room will look like a living room, with realistic furniture and props. 4) The costumes will not look like costumes, but will be designed to be as close to authentic clothing as possible. As a matter of fact, for modern plays, many costumes are bought off the rack at department stores. 5)The lighting will be as close to realistic lighting as possible. Indoor lighting will create, for example, room lighting that looks as if it is being illuminated by a lamp. Sun and moonlight will resemble realistic outdoor lighting as much as possible.

Theatre

1) building in which a theatrical production takes place 2) study of theatre 3) an art form acting, directing, playwriting, etc

what are the components of theatre?

1. Audience 2. Performers- 3. Playwright 4. Director 5. Theatre space a.) Lighting b.) Sound c.) Set/Scenery/Props d.) Costumes/Make-up

true realism came about in the late _________'s

1800's

what is considered the golden age of greece

5th century BCE

Farces were popular in

5th century BCE Greece, medieval England, the European Renaissance, and in many countries today.

Comedies of Manners have been around since

5th century BCE Greece.

Convention:

A convention is a contract between the play and the audience. For example, if the play is a musical, it will stay a musical throughout the production

Commercial Success

A play that makes a lot of money

Tragedy

A play with calamitous events, a very bad outcome for main character(s), but which has an enjoyable cathartic effect for the audience, with an understanding of virtue arising from hardship.

who is considered the father of realism

A playwright named Henrik Ibsen

the understanding that an action on stage is not real (yes this is the front)

Aesthetic Distance

A greek philosopher and theatre critic (yes this is the front)

Aristotle

Theatre is a _____________ effort

Collaborative. A writer, a visual artist and even a composer can be alone in a room and create.

The term Heroic Drama was coined by the playwright _________ in the____ ______

Dryden in the 17th century

Definition of Realism:

Everything on stage is meant to resemble everyday life.

We can connect the Comedy of Ideas to the playwright

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Plays written after 1875 are considered

Modern

Playwright

Person who puts a story in the form of a script or text.

Director

Person with concept of the text and who is in charge of most elements

Genre that changed the way we watch theatre (yes this is the front)

Realism

T/F Theater can exist without a script, director, design and technical elements. All you really need are audience members and performers

T

THE PURPOSE OF THEATRE IS CLOSELY RELATED TO

THE REASONS THAT WE ATTEND THEATRE.

AESTHETIC DISTANCE

The knowledge that what you are seeing isn't actually real

Style

The opening scene of a play establishes the style in which it is written (see chapter three).

climatic structure characteristics

The plot begins later in the story, close to the climax and is linear There are no sub-plots or parallel plots Characters are restricted to a few The plot usually takes place in one location The plot usually takes place within 24 hours or a few days at the most

Definition of Anti-Realism:

The production does not resemble everyday life.

perhaps the most important point of theatrical purpose

Theatre is invariably about the human condition and some conditions transcend time and space.

Episodic structure characteristics

There can be several sub-plots or parallel plots Several Characters The plot takes place over several days, weeks, months even years Plot begins early in the story The play can take place over several locations

The two major types of theatre are

Tragedy and Comedy.

A GOOD CRITIC MUST BE ABLE TO

UNDERSTAND THEATRE, ASSIGN A VALUE TO IT, AND DO THIS WITHIN A HISTORICAL CONTEXT.

Purpose of the play (what a critic looks at)

Usually, a critic will look at the playwright and the director first playwright-- Why did the playwright take on the daunting task of creating these particular characters, this particular story? Is there something we, as an audience, should know or have a better understanding of? Or maybe the playwright would like the audience to understand a particular side of an issue. Perhaps entertainment is the main purpose of a play. The Director — Why did the director choose to direct this play, and what is her particular interpretation of it? Perhaps the director, like the producer, wants to entertain us, or believes that an audience should see and understand a particular side of an issue.

super objective

What a character wants most in life

Artistic Success

What audience members, critics and theatre practitioners believe is an achievement in creating a work of art in the world of theatre; something with value pertaining to the human existence.

Playwrights will help their characters get to the final scene by giving them a

a Super-Objective "What do I want above all else?"

In plays with linear structures

a clear "spine" exists in that structure: Point A to point Z.

When characters fall from grace and the play ends with their lives in ruins, we call this...

a modern tragedy.

Dramatic structure contains.

action

when characters comment on the action of the play (as a narrator does) we commonly refer to them...

as having the same function as the Greek Chorus.

Traditional tragedy is often written

as verse or using lofty language

Circular structure is used in many

avant-garde plays.

Objectives propel

characters into action

Modern tragedy uses characters that are

considered to be like most working class or middle class people.

wright

craftsman

usually has more back ground and research time to write (yes this is the front)

critic

story

events not seen on stage

Story includes

events not seen on stage. This is usually the action that takes place before the plot begins, or between scenes and acts. We learn the story through exposition. This is when the characters on stage tell the story to each other, filling in information to make the plot clear.

plot

everything seen on stage from opening to end

Plot is

everything seen onstage from the time the play opens until the curtain closes. It depicts the events that take the characters through the spine of the play-- the through-line.

Time, location and back story are told through ____________

exposition

Royalty

fee payed to playwright for use of his or her play

satire uses wit and irony to attack the

folly of humankind

audience

gathering of people with the purpose of watching a performance

obstacle

gets in the way of objectives or super objectives

As a critic, you should research

he playwright, director and play before attending the performance.

a Comedy is characterized by its

humorous tone and good outcome

Critics have the ___________, _______, and _________ to analyze and study the art of theatre.

knowledge, time, and space. They write books about it, research it, and understand it.

Design and technical elements

lighting, sound, set, costumes, etc

conflict types

man vs man, nature, himself

subtext

meaning beneath words

The main characters of Greek tragedy are always

members of the aristocracy or the upper class.

Art

mirror to society

The playwright Anton Chekhov is known for

modern Tragicomedy.

dance, opera, and theatre

move through both space and time

music moves through

moves through time

Characteristics of comedy

natural laws do not apply, contrast between social order and individual, the comic premise

Drama can be used to describe a type of theatre that is...

neither Comedy nor Tragedy.

Traditional tragedy uses characters that are

of royal blood or upper class

Burlesque makes fun of

other dramatic forms or plays

performers

people who perform or entertain

playwright

person who puts a story in the form of script or text

Farce is the main characteristic in a

physical comedy

theatre space

place where a performance takes place

Tragedy

play with calamitous events, bad outcome

no play can be produced or published without consent of the

playwright

critics judge plays from

reading scripts

Some plays utilize both __________ and ___________

realism and anti realism

Kings and Queens are omnipotent and therefore

represent all of the people of their domain

has less space to write about the production (yes this is the front)

reviewer

Not all plays fall within the two major structures of episodic and climactic. Some plays are written in a combination of the two. Other structures include

serial, tableaux and circular

Drama usually deals with...

serious themes and characters.

The laws give full ownership to the playwright for _______ and his or her estate for _____ years after his death.

seventy

Produced plays generate money for the playwright according to:

size of audience, ticket prices or profits, and the location of production

Remember that theatre holds up a mirror to society

so the critic must know the reflection. This will help with the understanding of what is being attempted by the playwright or director.

The plays from 5th century BCE are...

so well written and profound that they are still performed and form a basis of theatre today.

Comedy of Ideas uses comedy to bring light to

social and political issues

A critic needs to understand the audience for whom the playwright is writing. By audience I mean

society

paintings and sculptures would move through

space

visual art moves through

space

script

story in written form

Henrik Ibsen wrote what type of plays

surrealistic plays rooted in symbolism as audiences were still trying to make sense of realism.

A good critic must understand

the history of theatre. This knowledge must include the relationship of the audience to theatre throughout history. Also, a critic must know what has been successful and acclaimed in the past, and should contemplate the future of theatre

"Comedies of manners" popularity peaked in

the late 17th and early 18th centuries in Europe. This was a time of decadence and great wealth for the upper class who loved theatre.

Realism was innovative because...

theatre in the ancient East, 5th century BCE Greece and in Europe during Shakespeare's time featured writing and acting that was stylistic-- bigger than life.

A critic must be able to express his or her ideas in the context of

theatrical history, the purpose of the play and who we are as an audience, among other things.

Traditional plays are

those written before roughly 1875

literary art and live music would move through

time

theatre moves through

time and space

Tragicomedy has an equal mixture of

tragedy and comedy

A Heroic Drama has

tragic elements but an uplifting feeling at the end

genre

type or category

a critic must first _________ ______ _______ is and then _______ ____ ____ _______ _______

understand what theatre is and then prescribe what it should be

convention

unwritten contract between the play and the audience

exposition

used to tell story

we rely on critics to assign ______ to theatrical texts or productions

value

"comedy of manners" relies on...

verbal wit

WILLING SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF

we temporarily suspend the knowledge that what we are experiencing is not real. (letting yourself get emotionally involved in the performance while knowing it is not real. We are also, simultaneously, experiencing aesthetic distance. They are inextricably tied.

emotional investment in the action on stage (yes this is the front)

willing suspension of disbelief