PLAY CRITIQUE

THRT 001 - REVISED PLAY CRITIQUE - Professor Massie of 1 2

THRT 001 REVISED PLAY/FILM CRITIQUE GUIDELINES: Professor Massie, M.A, M.A., M.F.A.

Your critique is worth 20 points and should be 2 pages but can be more, typed, double spaced, 12 pt. font, and should include:

• The name of the play or film version of the play, and playwright, or screenwriter • The date you saw the online version of the play or film • The online link to the version you saw, such as a YouTube link that is a hyperlink so I

can click on it - also list if you saw a full film version on a network like amazon prime, or netflix. Even if the link is in modules, include it in your paper to make it easier for me to see.

• DO NOT WRITE ON A PRODUCTION YOU HAVE SEEN, BUT I CAN’T SEE- such as a high school or college production you like but there is no link. If you can’t send me the link, you can’t write on this production!

1. Playwright - Any additional notes you want to add about the playwright from the notes I gave you or additional reading you may have done

2. Genre/Style of the Play, or film version of the play, or Film – e xamples are Tragedy, 1 Drama, Comedy, Realism, Symbolism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Absurdism, Musical Theater, Musical Comedy - all in the notes

3. Themes in the play - what was the main message of the play if you had to summarize what the play or film version meant to you? - You can use the notes I sent you, and/or add your own ideas

4. Set Design - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the set design - go to the module on “Design Elements” or “Set and Lighting Design for ideas such as a multilevel set, single unit set, realistic, symbolic set, colors, levels, specific set pieces that stood out to you.

5. Lighting Design - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the lighting design - go to the module on “Design Elements,” or Set and Lighting Design,” such as light or dark, use of colors, use of a spotlight, focus in terms of specific stage areas lit, whatever you can detect watching online

6. Costume Design - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the costume design - go to the module on “Costume and Makeup Design,” - period or classical costumes, colors used, textures, silhouettes - list the general time period of the play or film, colors used, style

THRT 001 - REVISED PLAY CRITIQUE - Professor Massie of 2 2

THRT 001 REVISED PLAY/FILM CRITIQUE GUIDELINES, Professor Massie, M.A., M.A., M.F.A.

7. Makeup and Hair Design - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the hair and makeup choices - go to the module on “Costume and Makeup Design,” - such as if the characters in the play or film have a specific look, such as the gothic look in Sweeney Todd- pale skin, dark circles under the eyes for example, the general time period as well especially if it is classical or contemporary.

8. Staging and Blocking - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the rhythm, pacing, amount of movement on stage, technical specificity of the blocking if there are a lot of people on stage. Blocking refers to specific or choreographed movements on stage or in the film, What was visually interesting to watch?

9. Acting - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the Acting - what characters did you relate to the most? What characters did you believe the most? Which characters did you not believe or relate to? If you were cast in this play or film , which character would you want to play and why?

10. Directing - make at least 1 descriptive comment on the Directing - were the scene transitions smooth? Was there a unified style to the design elements? Did you feel involved in the story? Did you go on the character’s journey while watching it?

11. Music and Sound Design - make at least 1descriptive comment on any music or sound design that stood out to you in the play or film, especially if you are writing on a musical. If you didn’t notice anything, you still need to make that comment and address this category.

12. Other questions to consider: How did the play or film make you feel? Were you moved, surprised, sad, bored, confused, entertained, scared? What specifically affected you - even if you only saw film clips?

13. Spelling and punctuation are important and will affect your grade.