Theatre Exam Questions
Typical structure of Willima Shakesp
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European & Asian theatre history & practices date back well over 2000 years & yet it wasn't until the ___ when global connections began to take hold in theatre based on developments in communication & travel
1800's
Commedia dell'arte is a form of improvisational theatre practiced in Italy utilizing many stock characters such as ____
Columbine, Dottore, Harlequin
Even though it uses advance theatrical technology The Cirque du Soleil doesn't give its audience a highly theatrical experience because it still has its roots in simple circus entertainment (T/F)
False
Even with the globalization of theatre you will still never find musical theatre productions in Asian countries that are still based on rich & active traditional theatre forms (T/F)
False
If a playwright is writing about an historical event, it is inappropriate for them to change the order of events to suit their purpose (T/F)
False
If a reviewer dislikes a particular production, it is probably best to avoid it. (T/F)
False
One unfortunate reality of our contemporary multicultural & diverse theatrical performances is that it is so complex & fragmented that it confuses our contemporary audiences rather than serving them (T/F)
False
The experienced theater critic tends to look at a particular theater event independent of other factors, & attempts to avoid putting theater into a larger context (T/F)
False
The word "genre" means an ability to "generalize about all human beings by observing a small portion of their actions." (T/F)
False
Traditional tragedy assumes a basically optimistic view of the universe, and places faith in the ability of humanity to overcome adversity (T/F)
False
Tragic Heroes, in traditional tragedy, often find themselves in situations from which there is no honorable avenue of escape (i.e. tragic irretrievably) (T/F)
False
This type of performance space was developed by the Greeks for their plays; it also was the type of theatre space used during Shakespeare's time
Thrust
Farce relies on knockabout physical humor, gross exaggerations, and occasional vulgarity (T/F)
True
In fact diversity in the world of contemporary theatre reflects the kind of diversity & fragmentation present in our contemporary world (T/F)
True
One of the hallmarks of melodrama is that characters tend to be fairly complex, with many contradictions in their motivations & actions (T/F)
True
Rather than competing against digital media forms of entertainment theatrical productions will continue to appropriate these newer technologies into the live theatre experience giving audiences additional compelling reasons to experience live theatrical performances (T/F)
True
SNL actually uses a format that was basically established in early vaudeville that was a popular form of entertainment from the 1880's until the early 1930's. (T/F)
True
The first task of the dramatist is to decide what aspect of people and their concerns to write about (T/F)
True
The size and type of Theatre space will have an affect on the way an audience perceives the material & therefore many plays and musicals, are frequently selected to be presented in a particular type of performance space (T/F)
True
Theatre grew out of ritual celebrations and structure, which use ____
a re-enactment of actions that have acquired special meaning
Shakespeare's plays typically included subplots, which are ____
a secondary plot that reinforces or runs parallel to the major plot
The central unifying conflict and movement through a drama is referred to as the _____ of the play
action
The degree of separation between the object or an event, which an artist creates and the audience observes, is called:
aesthetic distance
Elaborate scenery in this type of performance space, even to only one side of the playing space, is impossible because it would block the view of other audience members
arena
The most intimate performance space (i.e. audience is closest to the action) is:
arena
Because of the power of the audience's mental & emotional participation in a theater event, those in authority may fear the effect the theater can have. This fear sometimes results in:
censorship
This type of dramatic structure requires extensive exposition
climactic structure
The final and most significant crisis is referred to as the
climax
This type of performance space is associated with street theatre
created, or found space
This type of performance space was used by the Polish director Jerzy Grotowski in his production of Doctor Faustus
created, or found space
Based on the multicultural & diverse nature of our contemporary theatre it is not uncommon to find homogenous audience groups that connect to the material for ____ reasons
cultural, socio-political and gender
The dramatic structure that aims at a cumulative effect, piling up people, places and events, is called
episodic
An important distinguishing difference between Film/TV & Live Theatre is:
in film, the audience is only in the presence of an image
Theatre as an Art Form is unique because
it occupies both time and space
A contemporary trend in musical theatre is a genre referred to as the ___, in which a story is written around already popular rock music
jukebox musical
Another term that means "contrast in the connection of scenes" is
juxtaposition
Which of the following is not a convention of common climactic dramatic structure?
limited conflict
At its foundation theatre explores the nature of the human condition by providing audiences with:
observations about life
An impediment in a character's way is called a/an
obstacle
The ____ determines the detail of the script
playwright
Selection and arrangement from a story-what actually happens onstage, not what is talked about-is called a
plot
"Fourth wall theater" describes
proscenium
Most Broadway performance spaces were built in this configuration
proscenium
This type of performance space is particularly effective for realistic settings
proscenium
This type of performance space utilizes the greatest amount of scenery and stage machinery
proscenium
Repetition or reenactment of a proceeding or transaction, which has acquired special meaning is called
ritual
A full account of an event or series of events, usually in chronological order, is called a
story
If a spectator is so enraged by the behavior of a play's villain that he leaps onstage & kills him, the spectator is lacking the proper:
suspension of disbelief
At the heart of the theater experience is:
the actor-audience relationship
One of the most compelling reasons to experience a theatre performance is:
the immediate, personal exchange & chemistry between the audience & performers
When we want so much to believe in the reality of what is happening onstage that we put aside all literal & practical considerations in order to enter into the world of the drama, it is called:
the willing suspension of disbelief
In the medieval period, this type of performance space was called a platform stage or trestle stage
thrust
This type of performance space was originally built into hillsides in Greece
thrust
Typical Elizabethan playhouse was this type of performance space
thrust
Throughout theatre history the most common forms of dramatic purpose whether unconscious or deliberate as determine by the playwright include:
to entertain and to provide an escape & impart info
Bourgeois or domestic drama are plays that deal with middle - or lower-middle class characters dealing with problems of the family & the home rather than affairs of state (T/F)
true
Two ideas essential to tragic drama are the concept that human beings are capable of extraordinary accomplishments, & the notion to the world is potentially cruel & unjust (T/F)
true
Two periods that were particularly conducive to the creation of tragic drama were the 18th century (the Age of Enlightenment) & the 19th century (the Century of Progress) (T/F)
true
If a spectator watching Peter Pan turns to a companion and says, "Look at the wires. Peter Pan can't really fly," the spectator is not:
willingly suspending his or her disbelief
