Test your basic knowledge |

Theatre Basics

Subject : performing-arts
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Second part of a Noh play - protagonist performs a dance that expresses his or her concern






2. Result of western influence - a toned down version of Kabuki - told stories of everyday life - particularly those of women - women played women's parts (whereas Kabuki was all male)






3. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot






4. The first all-black show to pay at a top Broadway theatre






5. Romanian-born French playwright best categorized as a hilarious absurdist; The Bald Soprano (1949) & Rhinoceros (1959)






6. French philosopher often called the Father of the Romantic movement; argued that people could find happiness in a 'state of nature' and that they should learn from nature rather than the artificial and corrupted teachings of society






7. A sudden - striking pose (often with their eyes crossed - chin sharply turned - and big toe pointed towards the sky) in Kabuki accompanied by several powerful beats of wooden clappers






8. The first theatre in the world to be lit with electric lights






9. Kabuki borrowed many of these movements to make Kabuki acting highly stylized and almost puppet-like






10. A big production number that usually receives a torrent of applause that literally stops the show






11. Proclaimed 'God is dead...and we have killed him.'; felt taht absence of God was a tragedy - but believed human beings needed to accept the tragedy and move forward in a world that was unjust and meaningless






12. Book - music - and lyrics






13. The first all-black show to pay at a top Broadway theatre






14. One of the most popular Kabuki and Bunraku playwrights - who - like Shakespeare - wrote crowd-pleasing plays that combined poetry and prose in dramatic tales of comedy - tragedy - love - and war






15. Have become living traditions that are handed down from father to son

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16. Peking Opera was dramatically altered when:






17. Estrangement; essentially the alienation effect






18. Developed from the dance-prayers of Buddhist priests; has five possible subjects: the deities - the deeds of heroic samurai - women - insanity - and famous legends






19. Grew out of the theatre of Thespis in Ancient Greece; passed from the Athenians to the Romans to the medieval Europeans






20. Most famous of the absurdist playwrights; best considered a fatalist - although work is sometimes hilarious and can ask existential questions; Endgame (1957) Krapp's Last Tape (1958) and Happy Days (1961); Waiting for Godot (1953)






21. Bandits discuss rival systems of goverment while waiting for an attack






22. An early form of theatre; it used theatrical techniques such as song - dance - and characterization - but it was still firmly rooted in religion






23. Three parts of a Noh play






24. People who dismissed Traditional African Theatre because it was so unlike anything they knew






25. A program of sketches - singing - dancing and songs pulled from previous sources






26. A program of unrelated singing - dancing and comedy numbers






27. Holds that human beings are naturally alone - without purpose or mission - in a universe that has no God






28. Staged inexpensive - noncommercial productions of artistically significant plays in small - out-of-the-way theatres






29. Only cost a nickel






30. Includes all other forms of drama - from the ancient ritual theatre of Africa to the traditional theatre of Asia to the shadow and puppet theatre of Muslim lands






31. Grew out of the theatre of Thespis in Ancient Greece; passed from the Athenians to the Romans to the medieval Europeans






32. Uses rock music - the rock and roll of the 1950s (Grease) - the psychedelic rock of the 1960s (Hair) or contemporary pop and rock (Rent)






33. Known for life-like sets that used hand-painted screens and gas-powered lighting effects to stage realistic sunrises and storm clouds; invented the DAGUERREO-TYPE - which was an early form of photography






34. French physicist - mathematician - and philosopher - expressed the essence of Romanticism






35. Term used to describe performances that mix theatre - visual arts - music - dance - gesture and rituals; often use multimedia effects - sounds and lighting effects to make a point and allow the audience to understand its deeper implications; often re






36. A true-to-life interior containing a room or rooms with the fourth wall removed so that the audience has the feeling of looking in on the characters' private lives






37. A form of musical entertainment featuring bawdy songs - dancing women - and sometimes striptease






38. Sarcastic label of Scribe's plays; the sympathetic protagonist suffers at the hands of an evil antagonist in the course of intense action - suspense - and contrived play devices; ending is always happy and the loose ends are neatly tied up






39. A robust and spectacular version of Noh; named after the characters for 'song' - 'dance' - and 'skill'; created by a woman named Okuni - owner of a brothel






40. French philosopher and playwright; The Flies (1943) & No Exit (1944)






41. Highlights the insanity of life in a comical way






42. A period of licentious gaudiness inspired by the elaborate styles that Charles II brought with him from the French Court






43. Theatre was not seen as being of value to society - so plays were not an important part of:






44. Greatest of the Sturm und Drang playwrights; was also a critic - journalist - painter - biologist - statesman - poet - novelist - philosopher - scientist - and the manager of the Duke of Weimar's playhouse






45. The first 'talkie' movie; featured white actor Al Jolson in blackface performing in a minstrel show






46. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot






47. More serious plot and theme; West Side Story (1957)






48. Elmer Rice; about a man named Mr. Zero Who is fired from his job and replaced by an adding machine






49. A production of British actor Charles Kean; had realistic costumes - set and props that he had researched to make sure they were historically correct

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50. Feature the work of a director-choreographer