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






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






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






4. Writes the book






5. 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






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






7. Suggests we are trapped in an irrational universe where even basic communication is impossible






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






9. One of the most valuable historical records of Indian theatre; an encyclopedic book of dramatic theory and practice; has 37 chapters and covers every aspect of classical Indian drama - also a treatise on dramatic theory and philosophy - states that t






10. 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






11. Play that takes place in a mental institution - the audience sits on the stage with the actor-patients






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






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






14. 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






15. Three parts of a Noh play






16. 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






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






18. 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






19. 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






20. The sung words






21. Sigmund Freud's book which analyzes the character of Oedipus and Hamlet






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






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






24. Type of Islamic theatre - religious drama of Iran which allowed for actors - both professional and amateur - and has been performed in open-air playing spaces and on some occasions in specially constructed indoor stages for hundreds of years

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25. 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






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






27. Contemporary form of Sanskrit Theatre - dramatized version of the Hindu epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata






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

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






30. 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






31. Based off the idea that before a problem can be solved - society must first understand that the problem exists; 'attack the message - not the messenger'






32. 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






33. The first modern musical; a melodrama about black magic staged in NYC in 1866






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






35. 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






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






37. 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






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






39. 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






40. 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)






41. Where more experts agree that human beings came into existence






42. A popular form of stage entertainment from the 1880s to the 1940s; included a dozen or so slapstick comedy routines - song-and-dance numbers - magic acts and juggling or acrobatic performances






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






44. Feature the work of a director-choreographer






45. Comic interludes performed during the intermissions of opera






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






47. A dialogue that captures the incoherence - broken language - and pauses of modern speech; usually marked by surreal distortion and impending danger; from writing of Franz Kafka






48. Would be removed in the box set to give audience a real life look into the scene






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






50. 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