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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. 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






2. 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






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






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






5. 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






6. 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






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






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






9. Wooden clappers used in Kabuki






10. 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






11. 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






12. 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






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






14. First part had musical numbers with little comic dialogue; second part was full of songs - dance and standup routines; third part featured a one-act play






15. 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'






16. 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






17. 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






18. 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






19. 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






20. 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)






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






22. Writes the lyrics






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






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






25. Result of western influence - a toned down version of Kabuki - told stories of everyday life - particularly those of women - women played women's parts (whereas Kabuki was all male)






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






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






28. Writes the book






29. Earliest form for photography






30. 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






31. 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






32. 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






33. Built in Venice in 1637






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






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






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






37. Wooden clappers used in Kabuki






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






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






40. Only cost a nickel






41. Closely tied to ritual - and it uses color - dance - song - and movements to exaggerate - stylize - and symbolically represent life






42. 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






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






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

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






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






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






48. Three parts of a Noh play






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. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot