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. 1. theatre has an actor who plays a character - theatre is artificial - and 2. theatre usually has a story with a conflict - conflict is key to all drama






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






3. 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)






4. Type of Islamic theatre which is created by lighting two-dimensional figures and casting their shadows on a screen; the audience watches the silhouettes while a narrator tells a story






5. Named new 'photographic' realism NATURALISM and his phrase 'slice of life' is quoted description of it






6. Holds that human beings are naturally alone - without purpose or mission - in a universe that has no God; not a negative - for without God humans can create their own existences - purpose and meaning






7. Showed middle-class characters finding happiness and true love (Enlightenment)






8. One of the most famous Sanskrit dramas - a love story in seven acts written by the playwright Kalidasa






9. Closely tied to ritual - and it uses color - dance - song - and movements to exaggerate - stylize - and symbolically represent life






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






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






12. 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






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






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






15. A permanent - professional theatre outside NYC; founded in 1947 by Margo Jones; stage new plays alongside commercial hits and historical plays; appeal to the intellectual audiences that Hollywood seldom serves






16. One of the most well-known Muslim Playwrights - who uses her plays not only to express herself but also to prompt discussions about such topics as violence against women - religious fanaticism - and female sexual desire






17. Islam's holy book - contains a warning about 'graven images' similar to the one in the Bible - prohibition applies to dolls - statues - portraits - and people playing a character






18. The men who play female roles are called:






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






20. In Sigmund Romberg's play the king young heir to the throne sacrifices his personal happiness for the good of the kingdom when he sorrowfully pulls himself away from his true love in order to marry a princess whom he does not love






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






22. Book - music - and lyrics






23. Recorded conversations of slum dwellers in Dublin and used their words verbatim in his plays






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






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






26. Writes the music






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






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






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






30. Told stories about common people who felt grand emotions and suffered devastating consequences (Enlightenment)






31. Most famous Restoration-era woman to make her living by writing plays






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






33. 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






34. 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






35. Showed middle-class characters finding happiness and true love (Enlightenment)






36. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






37. Argued that the prime function of playwrights is to expose the social and moral evils of their time






38. 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






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






40. Brought Western-style theatre to Africa to dramatize Bible stories in order to win converts






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






42. 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






43. 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






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






45. Studied the history of class conflict






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






47. 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






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






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






50. Big-time vaudeville who performed a series of lavish musical reviews on Broadway