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. 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






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






3. 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'






4. 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






5. 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






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






7. Smaller - less expensive alternative experimental theatres; flourished in lofts - basements - coffeehouses and any found space usable






8. Book - music - and lyrics






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






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

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






13. 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






14. 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






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






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






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






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






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






20. Book - music - and lyrics






21. 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






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






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






24. Russian playwright whose play The Lower Depths (1902) took look at people living in cellar of Moscow flophouse






25. Grew up in poverty and put himself through medical school and set up free clinics in Russia to help the poor; The Seagull (1896) - Uncle Vanya (1899) Three Sisters (1901) & The Cherry Orchard (1904); placed on stage the lazy chaos of lives crushed by






26. 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






27. 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)






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






29. What western theatre is often called:






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






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






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






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






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






35. 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






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






37. Musicals that feature a particular band's songs






38. Only cost a nickel






39. Writers who felt science was not adequate to describe the full range of human experience - and their writings stressed instinct - intuition - and feeling






40. Most famous of the absurdist playwrights; best considered a fatalist - although work is sometimes hilarious and can ask existential questions; Endgame (1957) Krapp's Last Tape (1958) and Happy Days (1961); Waiting for Godot (1953)






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






42. Highlights the insanity of life in a comical way






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






44. 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)






45. 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






46. Form of theatre that mixed traditional African ritual theatre and Western-style drama; encouraged African nationalism - glorified Africa's past - and advanced African customs - rituals - and culture; also dealt with serious political themes and appla






47. 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






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






49. 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






50. Feature the work of a director-choreographer