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. Only cost a nickel






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






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






4. '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






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






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






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






8. 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)






9. 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






10. Writes the lyrics






11. 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






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






13. Studied the history of class conflict






14. Goethe's most famous Romantic play






15. 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






16. Said that the free enterprise system is seriously flawed and is a cause of great human misery because it exploits the poor






17. Sell over $1billion worth of tickets annually - majority of those are for musicals






18. The first all-black show to pay at a top Broadway theatre






19. Studied the history of class conflict






20. 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'






21. 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'






22. Kabuki borrowed many of these movements to make Kabuki acting highly stylized and almost puppet-like






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






24. Where more experts agree that human beings came into existence






25. 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






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






27. 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






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






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






30. Third part of a Noh play - the protagonist appears as a new self - and the cause of torment is resolved






31. Unstructured theatrical events on street corners - bus stops and anywhere else people gathered






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






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






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






35. 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






36. Exposed the squalid living conditions of the urban poor and explores scandalous topics like poverty - venereal disease and prostitution; 'Sordid Realism'






37. The men who play female roles are called:






38. More serious plot and theme; West Side Story (1957)






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






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






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. Theatre was not seen as being of value to society - so plays were not an important part of:






43. 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






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






45. Where more experts agree that human beings came into existence






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






47. Plays without music






48. Three parts of a Noh play






49. Sell over $1billion worth of tickets annually - majority of those are for musicals






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