Type and double-space your responses to the questions below in MS Word or another word-processing program.
ESSAY QUESTIONS (Required)
Please respond using essay-question format. You do not need to turn this in to a full-blown essay with an introduction and conclusion. Instead use the numbering below and answer each question fully and thoughtfully. Just state the name of the play and where and when you saw it in your opening response. Make sure to correctly name the artists involved for the parts you are analyzing and distinguish between the performer(s) and character(s). You can find all that information in your program, so make sure to keep that handy! For all your responses, support each point with concrete details that you observed from the live performance.
1) Discuss the work of ONE performer that stood out to you. Clearly state both the performer name and the name(s) of the character(s) he or she played. Incorporate terminology and concepts from Topic 12/Chapter 4: The Art of the Actor in your response. (250-300 words; 30pts)
Describe in detail one particular moment that stood out in the play, and talk about the situation of the character in that moment. What was happening for that character? What did s/he want? What got in the way?
Now think about actor/performer choices: physical and vocal choices; believability; presence/energy; rapport with audience and/or other performers. How did the performer’s choices contribute to your experience of the moment?
Overall: What happened? How did you respond viscerally (in your gut)? What did you think about? How, if at all, did you care? How did other audience members respond? Be specific!
2) Describe in concrete detail one other moment of the play that stood out to you. Now think about the other elements (other than acting) that contributed Analyze HOW the production used at least TWO of the following elements to convey story and idea and evoke a response from the audience. Incorporate in your response terminology and concepts from Chapter 5: The Director and Chapter 6: The Designers and their associated topics. (250-300 words; 30pts)
Directing: casting, creating metaphors, stage pictures/movement (blocking, entrances and exits), rhythm and pacing, focus
Choreography: Dance/Movement in addition to the general stage movement (blocking and entrances and exits)
Design: (Spectacle: All that we see: lighting design, Set Design, Properties (objects) Design, Costume Design). Use terminology from the Elements and Principles of design in the Design topic module to support your points.
Music (all that we hear) – singing, orchestration, rhythms of speech– sound and silence
3) BONUS QUESTION (Optional) (10pts) Think about the event as a whole. What overall was the work trying to do? How successfully did it do that? Was it worth doing? Why or why not? Analyze the overall purpose of the event in terms of TWO of potential Functions of Theatre and Performance in the following list:
To enlighten/teach
To foster community
To delight the senses (visually/aurally)
To arouse emotion
To ask questions
To challenge our worldview (may even make us uncomfortable)
To encourage reflection about difficult issues
To inspire personal and/or societal change
To evoke admiration for the performers’ skills
To reflect our experiences
To evoke a visceral (physical) response
As always, support your statements with concrete, detailed examples from the event. Persuade your readers to agree with you! (100-200 words; BONUS)
