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. 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






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






3. The first theatre in the world to be lit with electric lights






4. 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






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






6. 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






7. 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






8. Staged inexpensive - noncommercial productions of artistically significant plays in small - out-of-the-way theatres






9. 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






10. 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






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






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






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. 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






15. Estrangement; essentially the alienation effect






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






17. 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






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






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






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






21. Including operetta - developed out of intermezzi






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






23. 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






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






25. The audience remains alienated from the performance so they could critically consider the play's themes






26. The realism of the play is expressed through lyrical language






27. 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






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






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






30. 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'






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






32. 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






33. By Swedish Playwright August Strindberg; fourteen-act play that follows the disconnected logic of a dream






34. 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






35. Russian playwright whose play The Lower Depths (1902) took look at people living in cellar of Moscow flophouse






36. 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






37. Musicals that feature a particular band's songs






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






39. Characterized by a light-hearted - fast-moving comic story - whose dialogue is interspersed with popular music; Guys and Dolls (1950)






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






41. 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






42. Developed from the dance-prayers of Buddhist priests; has five possible subjects: the deities - the deeds of heroic samurai - women - insanity - and famous legends






43. 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






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






45. 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






46. 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






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






48. All lines are sung - usually to grand classical music; Madama Butterfly (1904)






49. By Swedish Playwright August Strindberg; fourteen-act play that follows the disconnected logic of a dream






50. 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