Extra Credit response

Theater Companion This topic set can be used for Any Type of Play. (Musical Theater - theatrical narrative with song and other musical numbers – has a separate Companion. A. Basic Information:

1. Record the date you attended, where the production took place; describe the environment, audience, atmosphere. 2. Record the name of the company performing, title of the production, length of performance, intermissions. 3. Summarize your impressions of the order of the program (Is it laid out in historical, narrative, thematic manner?). 4. Take notes on the program pamphlet. Mention important elements of the performance and how they worked. Think of Aristotle’s components of a play to help you consider various elements (plot, character, theme, dialogue, spectacle, sound).

B. Respond to the performance and answer pertinent Theatrical Specifics: 1. Context Background: When was the play written? If dates are not given in the playbill, make an educated guess and explain your reasoning. For what kind of space and audience was this piece originally intended? What leads you to this conclusion? 2. Content of the play: List main characters. BRIEFLY, summarize the story (plot) - one short paragraph, about 1/2 page at the most. Focus on organization, pivotal scenes.

3. What exactly do you see on that stage (spectacle)? Can you detect Designer Choices; Are they true to type?

a. The set. Is it realistic? Surrealistic? Abstract? How does this contribute to (or detract from) the overall impact? b. The lighting. How is lighting used to increase the impact? Colors? To what effect? Sounds: How are they used? Effects? c. Costumes. Do they suit the time and locale of the play? Do colors or shapes suggest anything about the characters? d. The plot. How the plot is staged? What visual and other devices -- e.g. dialogue, actions) enabled you to follow the story? What ones did not work for you? Why? e. The actors/characters. How did the actors move + speak? Do they seem like “real” people? What character was most developed? How was this accomplished? Did you prefer this character over the others? f. Visually, describe the overall style and impact of the production.

4. Your thoughts on this Interpretation, by the director: Why do you suppose the playwright wrote this play? Why did the director and producer choose to produce the play now? 5. Your expectations. Why did you select this production? What did you expect? 6. Your assessment. How was this event different from other theater productions you have seen in the past? When did the playwright’s choice of character, environment, story, or language create a mood and have meaning for you? Why? Did the visual impact reinforce or weaken the theme of the production? How? What did you take away from the theater? Pleasantly entertained, with or without having to think? A sobering comment on life that did not entertain? A plea for or call to action that overstated its case? Insight into one’s own, or others’ problems? A determination to do something about the problems? 7. Expansion. - Reflecting back, make connections or comparisons to examples and ideas in our studies. - Implications: What cultural values does this performance suggest? How might this production apply to social or life situations today?