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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. 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. What western theatre is often called:






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






4. Comic interludes performed during the intermissions of opera






5. One of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment - French poet - essayist - and playwright whose writing often got him in trouble with the church; built a theatre on his own estate so he could freely present his plays






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






7. Goethe's most famous Romantic play






8. 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






9. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






10. 'The Father of Realism'; was initially a Romantic writer and his early plays were verse dramas largely based on Norwegian history and folk literature; plays presented complex - sometimes distrubing - views of human society; A Doll's House (1879) - Gh






11. Only cost a nickel






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






13. Three parts of a Noh play






14. Including operetta - developed out of intermezzi






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. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






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






18. 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






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






20. 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






21. Divided into fatalist - hilarious and existentialist






22. Plays without music






23. 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






24. French philosopher and playwright; The Flies (1943) & No Exit (1944)






25. A synthesis of music - dance - acting - and acrobatics; it was first performed by strolling players in markets - temples - courtyards - and the streets






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






27. 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






28. Spoken lines of dialogue as well as the plot






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






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






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






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






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






34. Comedies forced Victorian society to reexamine its hypocrisies; Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) - A WOman of No Importance (1893) - An Ideal Husband (1894); advocated 'art for art's sake'; The Importance of Being Ernest






35. 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






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






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






38. 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






39. 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






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






41. Type of theatre that grew out of ritual - incorporated acting - music - storytelling - poetry - dance - costumes - and lots of masks to create a theatre that combined ritual and ceremony with drama






42. People who dismissed Traditional African Theatre because it was so unlike anything they knew






43. The men who play female roles are called:






44. Would be removed in the box set to give audience a real life look into the scene






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






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






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






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






49. 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






50. The orchestrated melodies







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