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






2. 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






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






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






5. 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






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






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






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






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






10. 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






11. 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






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






13. 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)






14. Comic interludes performed during the intermissions of opera






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






16. 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






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






18. 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






19. Contemporary form of Sanskrit Theatre - dramatized version of the Hindu epic poems Ramayana and Mahabharata






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






21. 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






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

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






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






25. 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






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






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






28. 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)






29. 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






30. Feature the work of a director-choreographer






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






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






33. Most famous American expressionist playwright who won Nobel Prize for Literature (1936); A touch of the Poet (1935) - The Iceman Cometh (1939) - A Long Day's Journey into Night (1956) & A Moon for the Misbegotten (1952); The Hairy Ape (1952)

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






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






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






37. 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






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






39. 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






40. 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






41. 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






42. Writes the lyrics






43. 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






44. 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






45. Three parts of a Noh play






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






47. 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






48. Wooden clappers used in Kabuki






49. A medley of the show's songs played as a preview; usually the beginning of a traditional musical; lets the audience know that it's time to stop talking because the performance is about to begin






50. Most famous surrealist and was a French writer and director; studied Asian religions - mysticism - and ancient cultures; declared theatre should should wake the nerves and heart; argued that proscenium arch theatres create a barrier between the audie