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






2. 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






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






4. Only cost a nickel






5. Play by Wole Soyinka; celebrates Nigerian independence but also warns against returning to Nigeria's violent past






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






7. 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






8. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






9. One of the most famous Sanskrit dramas - a love story in seven acts written by the playwright Kalidasa






10. French physicist - mathematician - and philosopher - expressed the essence of Romanticism






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






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






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






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






15. 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






16. Characters were not individuals but types; standard roles included scholar - lover - hero - maiden - old woman - coquette - virtuous wife - and acrobatic warrior-maiden






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






18. The sung words






19. 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






20. 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






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






22. Studied the history of class conflict






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






24. 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






25. What western theatre is often called:






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






27. Writes the lyrics






28. 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






29. Characters were not individuals but types; standard roles included scholar - lover - hero - maiden - old woman - coquette - virtuous wife - and acrobatic warrior-maiden






30. 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






31. 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






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






33. A program of sketches - singing - dancing and songs pulled from previous sources






34. 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






35. 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






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






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






38. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






39. 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






40. Filled with characters who cannot resist an argument about social issues; no character is exempt from talking politics and theorizing about moral - artistic or religious reform






41. Wooden clappers used in Kabuki






42. Any artist or work of art that is experimental - innovative or unconventional; some styles would be symbolism - expressionism - futurism - Dadaism - surrealism - and absurdism






43. 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






44. Musicals that feature a particular band's songs






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






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






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






48. 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






49. Book - music - and lyrics






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