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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. Light opera - differs from 'grand opera' because it has a frivolous - comic theme - some spoken dialogue - a melodramatic story - and usually a little dancing; The Mikado (1885)






2. Estrangement; essentially the alienation effect






3. 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






4. Goethe's most famous Romantic play






5. Form of drama that dominated theatre in India for a thousand years; named for the ancient Indian language in which its plays are performed; combine the natural and the supernatural - the believable and unbelievable






6. 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






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






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






9. 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






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






11. Instead of learning how to conjure real emotions - actors of Sanskrit drama studied for many years to learn representations of emotions through:






12. 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






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






14. Wooden clappers used in Kabuki






15. 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






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






17. Including operetta - developed out of intermezzi






18. 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






19. 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






20. Writes the music






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






22. 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






23. 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'






24. Musicals that feature a particular band's songs






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

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26. First black woman playwright to be producted on Broadway; Raisin in the Sun based of her actual childhood






27. Earliest form for photography






28. 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






29. Six characters take on life of their own when the playwright fails to complete the play in which they were supposed to appear






30. Comic operas that mixed popular songs of the day with spoken dialogue






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






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






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






34. The orchestrated melodies






35. One of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment - French poet - essayist - and playwright whose writing often got him in trouble with the church; built a theatre on his own estate so he could freely present his plays






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






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






38. 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






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






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






41. 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






42. 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






43. 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)






44. Plays without music






45. Said that the free enterprise system is seriously flawed and is a cause of great human misery because it exploits the poor






46. Studied the history of class conflict






47. Three parts of a Noh play






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






49. 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






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






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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