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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. Writes the lyrics






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






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






4. Writes the book






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






6. Writes the lyrics






7. 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






8. 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






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






10. French Enlightenment playwright; was an inventor and thinker who spent countless hours at the leading intellectual salons of France; most famous plays are The Barber of Seville - and The Marriage of Figaro - his plays reflect the attitudes of the Enl






11. Writes the music






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. The realism of the play is expressed through lyrical language






14. The men who play female roles are called:






15. 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






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






17. Three parts of a Noh play






18. 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






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






20. Including operetta - developed out of intermezzi






21. Wrote plays about the rugged lives of Irish peasants using their dialect; Riders to the Sea (1904) & The Playboy of the Western World (1907)






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






23. Grew up in poverty and put himself through medical school and set up free clinics in Russia to help the poor; The Seagull (1896) - Uncle Vanya (1899) Three Sisters (1901) & The Cherry Orchard (1904); placed on stage the lazy chaos of lives crushed by






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






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






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






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






28. 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






29. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






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






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






32. Feature the work of a director-choreographer






33. Holds that human beings are naturally alone - without purpose or mission - in a universe that has no God; not a negative - for without God humans can create their own existences - purpose and meaning






34. French director who stage play The Butchers (1888) with real sides of beef infested with maggots






35. A blend of melody and drama and refers to the background music often played during these performances






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






37. Argued that the prime function of playwrights is to expose the social and moral evils of their time






38. The sung words






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






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






41. No spoken dialogue - entirely sung; comes from the Latin word 'work' and may have originally meant 'works in music' or 'musical works for the stage'; first operas were in Italy in late 1500s






42. Divided into fatalist - hilarious and existentialist






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






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






45. The first 'talkie' movie; featured white actor Al Jolson in blackface performing in a minstrel show






46. 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






47. 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






48. Earliest form for photography






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






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

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