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. 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)






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






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






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


5. 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






6. A repetition of the song - sometimes with new lyrics - sometimes with the same lyrics but with new meaning or subtext in order to make a dramatic point






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






8. The men who play female roles are called:






9. French philosopher often called the Father of the Romantic movement; argued that people could find happiness in a 'state of nature' and that they should learn from nature rather than the artificial and corrupted teachings of society






10. First female theatre manager in London; was also an actor and singer; managed first theatre to have a box set; Olympic Theatre in London






11. Writes the music






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. Thought that inner truths could be hinted at only through symbols; sought to replace the specific and concrete with the suggestive and metaphorical; usually had little plot or action and tended to baffle the audience






14. 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






15. Book - music - and lyrics






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






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






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. 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






20. No protagonist; deals with a family of characters who tell many stories at once; the fact that characters on stage take no action may inspire audience members to be motivated for the opposite in real life






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






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






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






24. 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






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. Thought that inner truths could be hinted at only through symbols; sought to replace the specific and concrete with the suggestive and metaphorical; usually had little plot or action and tended to baffle the audience






27. Highlights the insanity of life in a comical way






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






29. 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






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






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






32. The men who play female roles are called:






33. The sung words






34. Plays about the issues of the day that were in Manhattan neighborhoods






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






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






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






38. 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






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






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






41. 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






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






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






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






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






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






47. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






48. Plays without music






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






50. 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