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. A program of unrelated singing - dancing and comedy numbers






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






3. 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






4. By Swedish Playwright August Strindberg; fourteen-act play that follows the disconnected logic of a dream






5. 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)






6. Studied the history of class conflict






7. Type of theatre greatly influenced by Buddhism and Shinto; originates in ritual






8. 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






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






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






11. Romanian-born French playwright best categorized as a hilarious absurdist; The Bald Soprano (1949) & Rhinoceros (1959)






12. 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






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






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






15. History plays about major political events of the past - domestic plays about the loves and lives of merchants and townspeople - and dance-dramas about the world of spirits and animals






16. 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






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






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






19. Thought that inner truths could be hinted at only through symbols; sought to replace the specific and concrete with the suggestive and metaphorical; usually had little plot or action and tended to baffle the audience






20. History plays about major political events of the past - domestic plays about the loves and lives of merchants and townspeople - and dance-dramas about the world of spirits and animals






21. 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






22. Developed from the dance-prayers of Buddhist priests; has five possible subjects: the deities - the deeds of heroic samurai - women - insanity - and famous legends






23. 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






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






25. The orchestrated melodies






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






27. 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)






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






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






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






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






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






33. 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






34. 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'






35. 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






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






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






38. First part of a Noh Play - usually a chance meeting between two characters - introductions are made and the characters engage in a question-and-answer sequence that reveals the protagonist's concern






39. Two types of traditional Japanese theatre






40. 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)






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






42. 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






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






44. What western theatre is often called:






45. 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






46. This happened for the first time during the Restoration






47. 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






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






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






50. 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