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






2. 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






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






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






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






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






7. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot






8. 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






9. The want for more 'genuine' sets - more 'honest' acting - and dialogue to be modeled after everyday speech - influenced by ideas of CHarles Darwin - Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx






10. Exposed the squalid living conditions of the urban poor and explores scandalous topics like poverty - venereal disease and prostitution; 'Sordid Realism'






11. Studied the history of class conflict






12. One of the most important French philosophers of the Age of Reason - wrote and edited the first encyclopedia; was also a dramatist who penned books on the techniques of acting; authored The Paradox of Acting - a book that attached the pompous declama






13. 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






14. 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






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






16. Including operetta - developed out of intermezzi






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






18. 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






19. Most famous surrealist and was a French writer and director; studied Asian religions - mysticism - and ancient cultures; declared theatre should should wake the nerves and heart; argued that proscenium arch theatres create a barrier between the audie






20. Included comic scenes - dance interludes and sentimental ballads all based on white stereotypes of black life in the South






21. Type of theatre greatly influenced by Buddhism and Shinto; originates in ritual






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






23. An extreme form of realism; an acurate 'documentary' of everyday life - including its seamy side






24. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2005); The Dumb Waiter (1957)






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






26. 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






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






28. 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)






29. 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






30. Filled with characters who cannot resist an argument about social issues; no character is exempt from talking politics and theorizing about moral - artistic or religious reform






31. Most popular type of theatre during the Restoration; often featured great wit and wordplay and told stories about sexual gratification - bedroom escapades - and humankind's unrefined nature when it comes to sex






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






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






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






35. Elaborate geometrical designs were used for these roles which included supernatural beings - warriors - and bandits; the color of the make-up indicated the character's personality






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






37. 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






38. 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






39. The artist imposes his own internal state onto the outside world itself; expressionism is a subjective account of an objective perception; expressionist plays use deliberate set distortion






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






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






42. Founded in 1946 by Julian Beck and Judith Malina; dedicated itself to contemporary social issues and highly political - easthetically radical plays






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






44. Second part of a Noh play - protagonist performs a dance that expresses his or her concern






45. Smaller - less expensive alternative experimental theatres; flourished in lofts - basements - coffeehouses and any found space usable






46. 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






47. Set out to break all the neoclassical rules - attacked the three unities






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






49. The time period that glorified humans' power to reason and analyze - a period of great philosophical - scientific - technological - political - and religious revolutions






50. An extreme form of realism; an acurate 'documentary' of everyday life - including its seamy side