Theatre Evaluation

Defining a play

Series of events to which conflict is introduced

Can be defined by duration (one act vs. full play) or by its genre

Genres

Tragedy – basic formula created in the 5th B.C Athens still follow today; originally created to teach a lesson

Qualities:

Tragic hero – someone of elevated states with tragic flaw

Tragic flaw related to basic humanity (greed or pride)

Some element of the “supernatural” (Gods, fate, etc.)

Moment of realization where flaw is discovered

Decline in fortune/downfall

Never has a happy ending

Comedy – “human scaled” (smaller scale than tragedy) everyday people facing everyday problems

Qualities:

Universal theme related to basic human condition (most common=love)

Makes us laugh at what it means to be human

Always has a happy ending

Farce

Wildly hilarious treatment of a trivial, silly, ridiculous theme

Entire point is to make you laugh

(Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey, Robin Williams)

Melodrama

Serious play against a musical backdrop

(spoken play, music in the background)

Music helps to guide emotions

Every black and white (good guy vs. bad guy)

(everything at the surface)

Modern day soap opera is similar

Tragic Comedy

Mixed genre; serious play with a happy ending

Lightens the scale of tragedy

Musical

Fairly new (1860s); has book (script), music, lyrics; songs further the plot

Led by the book, singing/dancing furthers the plot at the highest point of tension or heightened emotion

History

Genre created by William Shakespeare

Slightly fictionalized account of a historical figure (kings)

Absurd & Alienation

Both are 20th century creations in response to paranoia of cold war

Absurd: Samuel Beckett most popular, he felt life was absurd because of all matters of true importance, human beings were “doomed to ignorance” (waiting for Godough, Happy Days)

Do not know things like meaning of life, what comes after death, etc. & the fact that we do not know makes life ridiculous

Alienation (epic theatre) Brecht; audience is being alienated & he felt that they must be kept objective & open minded didn’t want audience to forget they are in a theatre; all about getting rid of emotional attachment

The Playwright

Writing series of events SPOKEN WORD

Unique because they create the play but are rarely involved in the actual creative process

Tools of a Playwright

Plot -> the actual series of events

Characters -> audience takes the journey with the characters

Language -> literary element

Qualities of a Fine Play (elements a playwright wants)

• Credibility – logic in flow of play
• Intrigue – quality that makes us care what happens next
• Speak ability – line should have max impact when spoken
• Stage ability – written to be spoken effectively on stage
• Flow – feeling that words/actions are driving play forward
• Richness – every detail should contribute to experience
• Depth of Characterization – everything is unique
• Gravity – plays theme is significant; global theme
• Pertinence – “local theme” relating to the audience
• Compression – condensed in theatrical time frame
• Economy – eliminate any aspect you do not need
• Intensity – every element has weight & meaning
• Celebration – does not have to be happy, but celebrates lifes experiences

Structure – components & order of organization

Components

First laid out by Aristotle (First 6)

Language

Literary character of the text

Means by which info is conveyed to the audience (verbal or nonverbal)

Music

Adds emotion

Plot

Actual series of events

Characters

Gives audience someone to relate to, makes audience care about play

Theme

Key point at the center of the drama

Overall big picture; central message

Spectacle

The part you see, live component of theatre (set, lights, costumes)

Convention

Something understood between audience & people writing plays

Ex: scene ending with people going to sleep, next scene begins with breakfast. Its understood that time has passed

Order of Organization

Exposition

Gives audience a chance to get into the play, possibly in prologue, may introduce main characters/ideas (background)

1. Point of Attack
2. Sets tone/scenes for rest of play
3. Complication
4. Rising action
5. Climax
6. Catharsis, emotional release
7. Resolution
8. Brings audience back down, ends play

Terminology

Actors “cross” do not walk, enter & exit

Parts of the stage

From Actors Perspective

Up Right                        Up Stage                        Up Left

Right                        Center Stage                Left

Down Right                Downstage                Down Left

Audience

Rehearsal: period when actors, directions, etc. are working on a show (Off Set)

Stage Language

Verbal

Dialogue

• Conversation between 2 or more people

Monologue

• A long speech made by one person. Intended for other characters to appear

Soliloquy

• A character speaking who thinks they are alone on stage
• Not intended for other characters to hear
• Lets audience know what speaker is truly thinking

Aside

• Audience is intended recipient; way to draw them in

Lyrics, Prose

Nonverbal

Gestures/Body Language