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. Studied the history of class conflict






2. Characters were not individuals but types; standard roles included scholar - lover - hero - maiden - old woman - coquette - virtuous wife - and acrobatic warrior-maiden






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






4. 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)






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






6. During the Enlightenment there were revolutions in: ... which had a profound effect on theatre






7. Improved the daguerreotype and created modern photography; was also an English physicist






8. What western theatre is often called:






9. Comedies forced Victorian society to reexamine its hypocrisies; Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) - A WOman of No Importance (1893) - An Ideal Husband (1894); advocated 'art for art's sake'; The Importance of Being Ernest






10. During the Enlightenment there were revolutions in: ... which had a profound effect on theatre






11. The realism of the play is expressed through lyrical language






12. A blend of melody and drama and refers to the background music often played during these performances






13. Musicals that are mostly singing and have less spoken dialogue; similar to operattas - but thier tone is often much darker and more dramatic






14. Any artist or work of art that is experimental - innovative or unconventional; some styles would be symbolism - expressionism - futurism - Dadaism - surrealism - and absurdism






15. Play by Wole Soyinka; celebrates Nigerian independence but also warns against returning to Nigeria's violent past






16. Nigerian playwright that was executed for trying to protect the Ogoni people against encroachments of Shell oil company






17. Attacked the evils and restrictions of society; tried to reveal the higher reality of the unconscious mind with fantastic imagery and contradictory images; performances were often violent and cruel as they tried to shock the audience into the realiza






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






19. Estrangement; essentially the alienation effect






20. 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






21. History plays about major political events of the past - domestic plays about the loves and lives of merchants and townspeople - and dance-dramas about the world of spirits and animals






22. Composed and produced by Bob Cole - lyrics by Billy Johnson; story of a con man and used minstrel stereotypes and spoofed Chinatown; in one scene a young black man sings about he and his date were denied entry to a nightclub cuz He was black and this






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






24. Used giant puppets and actors to enact parables denouncing the Vietnam War and materialism






25. Most famous English actress - born into poverty - started out singing in taverns and selling oranges in theatres - became the King's mistress






26. Characterized by a light-hearted - fast-moving comic story - whose dialogue is interspersed with popular music; Guys and Dolls (1950)






27. By Swedish Playwright August Strindberg; fourteen-act play that follows the disconnected logic of a dream






28. Highlights the insanity of life in a comical way






29. Writers who felt science was not adequate to describe the full range of human experience - and their writings stressed instinct - intuition - and feeling






30. Wrote 'high comedies' which were cerebral socially relevant plays that had an intellectual scope so vast they forced audiences to reassess their values; Man and Superman (1903) & The Quintessence of Ibsenism (1891)






31. Life has no purpose and they confused and antagonized audiences by refusing to adhere to a coherent set of principles - mirroring the madness of the world






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






33. Africa's greatest living playwright; born in Nigeria; plays combine symbolism - mysticism - beautiful dialogue - and they make strong political points; plays are deeply rooted in African myths - dance - and rituals but also influenced by Western dram






34. Records of this type of theatre are fragmentary - but we do know that it grew out of regional religious rituals related to Confucianism - Taoism - and Buddhism - and ritual dances performed during the Shang dynasty






35. The sung words






36. The audience remains alienated from the performance so they could critically consider the play's themes






37. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






38. First part had musical numbers with little comic dialogue; second part was full of songs - dance and standup routines; third part featured a one-act play






39. 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






40. Form of theatre that mixed traditional African ritual theatre and Western-style drama; encouraged African nationalism - glorified Africa's past - and advanced African customs - rituals - and culture; also dealt with serious political themes and appla






41. First part of a Noh Play - usually a chance meeting between two characters - introductions are made and the characters engage in a question-and-answer sequence that reveals the protagonist's concern






42. Only cost a nickel






43. Musicals with a particularly well-developed story and characters






44. Wooden clappers used in Kabuki






45. Sell over $1billion worth of tickets annually - majority of those are for musicals






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






47. Unstructured theatrical events on street corners - bus stops and anywhere else people gathered






48. Musicals that are mostly singing and have less spoken dialogue; similar to operattas - but thier tone is often much darker and more dramatic






49. Wrote 'high comedies' which were cerebral socially relevant plays that had an intellectual scope so vast they forced audiences to reassess their values; Man and Superman (1903) & The Quintessence of Ibsenism (1891)






50. Only cost a nickel