question

Rabinal Achi

answer

Guatemalan play, as HISTORY: history of translation's release, actor preparation, Mayan and European influence, community and memory; as TEXT: ritual and drama, outside/inside dichotomy of European and Central America, role of sacrifice, circular plot structure

question

Who translated Rabinal Achi? Why?

answer

A priest- to make it more Christian

question

What were some traits of the actors performing in Rabinal Achi?

answer

abstinence for 30 days before and after, actors make own costumes, masks, 7 year contract, learn to dance

question

Origins of medieval drama and allegorical drama?

answer

Born out of dramatized liturgies done Easter week, 15th century, "Whom do you seek?" plays in church

question

miracle, mystery, morality plays

answer

miracle- lives of saints mystery- Bible scenes morality- allegorical dramas

question

allegorical definition and why?

answer

stand-ins for something else, "miracle play takes as its basis the historical books of the Bible and the legends of the Church, but these don't answer 'What must I do to be saved?'"

question

What is the urgency of Final Judgment?

answer

repent before it's too late, fear, panic, end of times, pity, woe, emphasize on Lucia's sin and don't wait like she did; an easy cardinal sin is so severe and consequential

question

What kind of medieval play style are Divine Narcissus and Final Judgment?

answer

allegorical

question

Who are the two couples in Loa of Divine Narcissus?

answer

Indigenous: Occident and America European: Zeal and Religion

question

How does Loa of Divine Narcissus justify the colonial mission?

answer

humanize the "savages" and promise them a way out

question

Are Occident and America originally willing to convert?

answer

No; they'd rather die

question

Which character in Loa of Divine Narcissus stands in for the playwright?

answer

Religion

question

Dates for Rabinal Achi, Final Judgment, and Loa of the Divine Narcissus

answer

RA- 15th century FJ- 1531 Loa- 1687

question

Romanticism

answer

ideas and theatre ideas; beyond earthly existence there is a higher truth; the closer to nature, the more truthful; humans never grasp truth in its entirety; art provides truthful insight; centrality of the artist-genius in leading the way for others; reach for more than our petty concerns; art provides the greatest amount of truth; connection to nationalism and the national myths; historical accuracy- adapt the style/costume, employ earlier theatrical methods; reject neoclassic rules, not purity of genres

question

Romanticism has connection to what two eras?

answer

Gothic and Medieval

question

In Romanticism, what do people frequently stare at?

answer

Their natural surroundings

question

Melodrama

answer

focus on emotional appeal, musical underscoring of emotion, vocal and physical underscoring of emotion, virtue under siege, lets audience know what to feel, strict poetic justice (good guy wins, bad guy loses) fast-paced and episodic, sensational action, suspense

question

Miss Lucy Long

answer

song, banjo, violin, party feel, folk, simple feel- like the songs in Glance at New York

question

Who's the dumbshit hick in Glance at New York?

answer

Good ol' George

question

Is melodrama geared to the lower class or higher class?

answer

Lower class; they laugh at the upper class

question

Why is melodrama appealing?

answer

Escapism, practical, entertaining satire, comic relief,

question

Why is the action in melodrama so big?

answer

Scarce lighting, huge theatres, people doing distracting shit in the crowd

question

What does it mean that melodrama has typical plot devices?

answer

Predictable plots, good guy wins, you go to a GAP show and know what you're going to see

question

Who's the ideal New Yorker and the hero of A Glance at New York?

answer

Mose

question

What makes A Glance at New York "American?"

answer

Show northern US audiences about parts of the world they'll never see, everyone was like George at one point, pride and identification of the audience, hazing initiation of George, real locations provided, country bumpkins picked on, Harry's first speech praising New York girls, people cheer saying "I've been there!" to these places

question

How is Mose "what all New Yorkers want to be?"

answer

Hardcore, brawler, manly firemen, has the slang down (Foo foos), masculine, lover, fighter, saves the girl, sensitive side with baby

question

What two journeys does George embark on that constitute "the immigrant narrative?"

answer

Greenhorn-native stupid-smart

question

How is class fluidity demonstrated in A Glance at New York?

answer

someone like Harry (high class) can be friends with someone like Mose (low-class)

question

What are some main points about the A Glance at New York production presentation?

answer

in the Marroney for diff. locations, shades of black and white film ideas, traditional multi-layered costumes for males, keep it set in 1848, George dresses for practicality, simple outfit for men to dress as women, Barclay street combined with front street for practicality, Loafer's Paradise is shabby and older-looking, "5 minute walk from extreme wealth to extreme poverty"

question

Where does A Glance at New York end? Why?

answer

at a theatre where all classes can intermingle, the ultimate democratic group

question

How does popular culture target a "lower-class" audience?

answer

baser instincts, prejudices, instant pleasure through corny jokes, current events

question

What happens when a play/character like A Glance at New York/Mose get popular, quotable, and mimicible? Why?

answer

The actor and playwright lose control, because people are using the behavior in ways it was never intended to be used.

question

What's an example besides A Glance at New York of a writer losing control of the play in ways it was never intended?

answer

Harriet Breacher Stowe and Uncle Tom's Cabin (stage adaptation when she hated theatre)

question

What does stereotype mean?

answer

A general image reproduced over and over

question

How is stereotype used in culture?

answer

Quickly explain origins, behavior, future quickly; predictability

question

Function of the minstrel shows

answer

entertainment form of racism, not meant to inspire (can be uncomfortable certainly)

question

Elements of minstrel shows

answer

characters, jokes, songs, makeup, 3 part structure (walkaround, olio, skit {situational comedy})

question

What were the first minstrel shows like?

answer

Virginia 1920-1942, semicircle, 2 main characters Tamba and Bones (after instruments) use dialects

question

What was the audience at minstrel shows like?

answer

White, male, urban, surprisingly northern

question

Jim Crowe and Zip Coon

answer

Jim Crowe- shabby and carefree, less than human, rural, free, open, uninhibited dance, blacks behave one way, whites another, for sake of dance cross lines Zip Coon- northern dressed, dignified, inability to act northern white, he tries too much, more dignified than Jim Crowe, funny in his laughter

question

Mammy and Miss Lucy Long

answer

Mammy- white man in drag to be black woman, motherly, sexist, overweight, nurturing, close to Aunt Jemima Miss Lucy Long- man in drag, milato figure, intermingled child with lighter skin, sexually active and available, phallic jokes

question

Jokes and Skits in Minstrel shows

answer

bad puns, mush mouth malapropisms, "take my wife, please" jokes, written/performed by dialects: ubiquitous, dialects important

question

Why did minstrel shows use black-face?

answer

exaggerate physical characteristics, child-like, animalistic, stupid look, hands, feet, penis exaggerated

question

Minstrel was the most popular form of American entertainment for how many years?

answer

100

question

How does all satire have a political edge?

answer

different social definitions, symbols, music/culture, slang, stereotypes

question

The Jealous Officer is what kind of play style?

answer

Farce; Brazilian play

question

What can you tell me about Martence-Pena, the author of The Jealous Officer?

answer

Brazilian, government clerk who left job to write plays, theatre as a business but you lose control when it goes into world

question

What can you tell me about the direct line between culture and popular entertainment?

answer

Get the morals of a culture through its entertainment, what did people think/talk/love/hate about?

question

Elements of Farce

answer

fast-paced, stock characters, sexually-charged confusion, not real/plausible/logical, doors with people running in and out, furniture and screens to hide behind, letters cause confusion, misdelivery, disguise/mistaken identity

question

How is farce aggressive in the case of The Jealous Officer?

answer

the jealousy and hormones of the Officer drive everything, aggressive clumsiness of Paulino, racist "treachery" against the daughter, cane punishment, repeated lines "oh, I killed her," intensity, rough, fast-paced aggressive

question

How is farce theatrical in the case of The Jealous Officer?

answer

over-the-top, accessible, aside comments, slapstick, blackface, breaking the fourth wall, refers to "Othello" metatheatrically, done in real time

question

Why does Wilson talk about Ira Aldridge, Edwin Booth, and Laura Keene specifically for actors in the nineteenth century American theatre?

answer

racial and sexual prejudice, they were managers, dealt with tragedy, speak to political and artistic changes at this time, alterations to texts to make them more Western, dealing with censorship

question

African Grove Theatre

answer

1820, William Alexander Brown, 38 Thomas Street, some of the first plays written and performed by African Americans and Africans, indoors, ambitious, not light, Shakespeare and other popular products written by white men performed by black men

question

William Alexander Brown faced censorship; what kinds did he face?

answer

print- papers belittled him parody- people parodied his plays arrest- company arrested and told not to perform Shakespeare anymore riot- 1822- white men premeditated a riot, went to theatre, dimmed lights and ripped place apart

question

What did the censorship of Brown's plays represent?

answer

A culturally-wide censorship

question

Road to realism

answer

set design, space, theatre, technology, architecture affects how play is written and performed

question

Development of realism as a style

answer

Stanislavski's work, Chekov, Freud's 1900 Interp. of Dreams

question

realism sets appearing in 1820s

answer

incredibly detailed, what do these places really look like?, lots of people for crowd scenes

question

box set

answer

use actual walls, tables where you sit, cut a wall away and look inside at the world they live in, popularized by Edwin Booth

question

What was an option for literally moving the audience at realism plays?

answer

Dress them as citizens and make them watch while onstage

question

What form of theatre was 1859's Octoroon meant for?

answer

Melodrama, pure entertainment

question

Who was in real life threatened because of Octoroon? Why?

answer

The lead actress playing Zoey the Octoroon, accused of demonizing the south supposedly, possibly "too abolitionist" (this is less than two years before the Civil War)

question

Why is melodrama an effective style for Octoroon?

answer

The point is to get empathy for Zoe, something melodrama excels at

question

How is race presented in Octoroon?

answer

The black and red face for the slaves like Pete and the indian, white actress for Zoe (can a white person be treated poorly too?) Race is constructed by blood, lineage, appearance

question

How is the law a stumbling block in Octoroon?

answer

Zoe is kept a slave, prevents her from being with George

question

What are four "types" of characters in Octoroon?

answer

The Yankee- Scudder The Slave- Pete The Indian- Wahnotee The Octoroon- Zoe

question

Scudder the Yankee

answer

Problem solver, industrious, smart, handyman Northerner, virtuous, sympathetic to slaves, fights for them at auction, wants to raise money for George, doesn't want to see Zoe sold, uneducated (where does a northerner get education?), against institution of slavery, Scudder wears outdoors clothes because he's a supervisor

question

Pete the Slave

answer

contented slave, comic relief, loyalty to family, builds on minstrel tropes- comedic and loyal- what a slave should be

question

Wahnotee the Indian

answer

loyal to his culture, blind favoritism, "a dog" qualities, language/dialect is thick, drinks a lot

question

Zoe the Octoroon

answer

sings, sweet, whistful, lover, damsel in distress, romantic, doesn't blame others (her mom), selfless, empowering, strong, desirable (forbidden fruit)

question

How does Octoroon make an American portrait?

answer

a melting pot, barbaric tendencies, addresses problems, common theme of loyalty, What is the law? What is the voice of the people?

question

What can you tell me about the Octoroon production presentation?

answer

Marroney, original time and place for historical accuracy, minimalistic set, heat lighting for outdoors, formal coats for men, wool linen for women, fiddle and banjo for sound, romantic banjo for George and Zoe, sad banjo when she dies, contrasting lighting since it's melodrama

question

What physically happens to Zoe when she drinks the poison (besides the obvious fact she dies?)

answer

She becomes "white"

question

Why does Zoe "have" to die?

answer

A biracial wedding at the end would royally upset the audience if done in that time

question

Three main development stages of this class so far:

answer

Colonial theatre, 19th century theatre, realism

question

Realism women artists

answer

Stella Adler- Group Theatre Anita Bush- African American, Harlem, Lafeyette Players Hallie Flanigan- federal theatre project in Depression Martha Molton- first female professional playwright of this; The Movers; 19th century. 35 plays

question

Taboo issues in realism plays

answer

gender treatment, social problems in plays, politically left (Adler and Flanigan accused of communism)

question

Lafeyette Players

answer

Shakespeare and realism dramas, African American groups, "we can perform these serious plays," arguments of the realist plays cared about, there wasn't a large amount of AA plays to choose from, low image of blacks in comedies, needed them in these realist plays, early 1900's

question

Era of realism

answer

late 19th century-present

question

Realism qualities

answer

social problems, realistic sets and acting, verisimilitude (appearance of true or real), against bombast of romanticism and melodrama, abolishing artificial stagecraft, social darwinism (more naturalism), interiority and psychology (Freud), character created by history/background and environment, lessened idea of fate (evolution and Freud weaken God)

question

How is race depicted in the Showboats scene?

answer

dressed down AA woman watching white sing, borrowing the song and criticizing the white woman singing it (an AA song), white woman defensive

question

What can you tell me about the production presentation on Trifles?

answer

subtle and short, stage at Maricopa Hall on 2nd U of A, follow into rooms like Sleep No More in NYC, run of show short because of location, contemporary feminist, immersion effect on audience, dimly lit, relatability

question

Trifles as realism

answer

moral ambiguity unlike melodrama, environment as a background (pushes Mrs. Wright into doing it because she feels so helpless and trapped that she's pushed into it), females vs. men (the law), do they tell the men or hide the evidence, happens in real time

question

What is Machinal based on and what other play is it like?

answer

A real murder case, Trifles

question

What was expressionism a response to?

answer

film dominating realism, theatre needed something, against objective world in favor of subjective approach

question

characteristics of expressionism

answer

what's underneath the surface details, how does this world look different for this person than anyone else?, seek truth in spiritual qualities, subjective, exaggerated shapes, lights, mechanical movement and telegraphic speech, external reality brought in line with spiritual nature, shadows to show something hidden under surface , over the top

question

U.S. expressionists

answer

Susan Glaspel- Machinal Eugene O'Neil- Hairy Ape Elmer Rice- The Adding Machine they all transitioned from realism

question

Why doesn't Machinal list names?

answer

universality

question

How does an Expressionist play like Machinal disjoint scene rhythm?

answer

episodes instead of acts, random jumps in time

question

Why does the young woman marry Mr. Jones?

answer

Financial stability and an ID (just kidding)

question

Machinal plot, character, dialogue, structure, setting

answer

plot- young woman struggling to be free character- universality namelessness dialogue- repetitive, disjointed, not specific, no subtext, idea of a machine (first episode and last) setting- multiple

question

What can you tell me about Machinal's production presentation?

answer

would mix things up from the realist and traditionalist you normally see at ART, Tornabene for immersion, audience is part of the machine, themes of mental health and feminism still applicable today, outside scenes on balcony, isolation light (expressionism), metallic underscoring for sound, only realistic part is costuming, gears/machines for scenery

question

Explain the ending of Machinal

answer

she escapes the machine through death (that sucks), things end on the machine's terms, the gears keep turning

question

Why does expressionism alienate?

answer

To get the political message across

question

What kind of hero usually stars in romanticism?

answer

A social outcast

question

Uncle Tom's Cabin onstage is what kind of theatre?

answer

Melodrama

question

What's an influence on the development of stock characters in genres like melodrama?

answer

commedia dell'arte characters

question

popular melodrama musical today

answer

Sweeney Todd

question

Melodrama influenced visual spectacle films; any examples?

answer

Avatar; Lord of the Rings; Star Wars; Guardians of the Galaxy

question

Who was the greatest dancer of the minstrel era? What color was he?

answer

William Henry Lane, surprisingly black

question

variety and vaudeville shows contain:

answer

songs, dance, acrobatics, animal acts

question

a popular entertainment that traveled starting in nineteenth century using spectacle for mass audiences

answer

circus

question

theatre audiences in the 19th century characteristics

answer

loved big stars, mass audiences, more playhouses and travel to the shows (rails)

question

Theatre Riots in 19th century

answer

1822 African Grove Theatre, 1830 Paris over V. Hugo's Hernani (neoclassics vs. romantics), 1809 Old Price Riots in London

question

Anna Mowatt and "Fashion"

answer

actress, playwright, 1819-1870, "Fashion" comedy play, American drama finally esteemed (Europeans dominated drama until that point)

question

Ira Aldridge

answer

1806-1867, black actor left America to go to Europe, became a huge star, Shakespeare, toured, King Lear, Othello, Merchant of Venice

question

Decline of repertory companies (actors hired for set number of plays)

answer

nineteenth century, runs made longer so no need to hire repertory, one cast performs entire run, actor training facilities open,

question

Laura Keene

answer

1826-1873, theatre management, was a leading lady before accepting job to manage theatre (first lady to do so), performed at Ford's Theatre when Lincoln died

question

19th century stage architecture

answer

enlarged playhouses until 1860s (shift away), proscenium, arch, pit, became more like continental theatres, improved ventilation, box sets

question

Booth's Theatre

answer

first modern theatre in US, balconies, flown in scenery, modern proscenium arch

question

Edwin Booth

answer

Dominated American stages , greatest stage actor to date, Shakespearean actor, realism, suffered tragedy, heavy set pieces, historically accurate settings

question

Wagner's Festspielhaus

answer

continental seating (enter and exit rows on the sides)

question

18th-19th century experiments with scenery, costumes, lighting

answer

historical accuracy in sets and costumes, the box sets (4th wall), moving panorama (cloth spun to look like movement and changing places), elevator stages (raise or lower sections of the floor), revolving stages, gas lighting, lamps

question

What led to the decline of minstrel shows?

answer

Rising prices, rise of films, worn out jokes, using women

question

Black vaudeville acts

answer

song and dance, skits, blues, stunts

question

Commercial theatre in the US

answer

popular realism, musicals in twentieth century, Gershwin, Rodgers, Hammerstein composers, Oklahoma!

question

Eva La Gallienne

answer

supporter of noncommercial theatre, Civic Repertory Theatre, 1899-1991, Chekov plays, Peter Pan, made serious drama available for audiences

question

Eugene O'Neil

answer

realism, went to expressionism, The Hairy Ape, paved the way for realism, Ah Wilderness!, wrote from his own tragedy experiences

question

Little Theatre Movement

answer

noncommercial little theatres, Provincetown Playhouse (first to produce O'Neil's plays), Susan Glaspell Trifles, new stagecraft designers for selective realism,

question

Group Theatre

answer

early 1900s, Meisner, Strasberg, Adler, Adler works with Stan, Actor's Studio, Meisner, how to train realistic actors

question

Federal Theatre Project

answer

noncommerical theatre during Depression, living newspaper- act out recent events, good opportunity for AAs

question

Ethel Waters

answer

Saint Louis Blues rendition, movie star, religious revivals, "blue material," 20th century

question

Paul Robeson

answer

African American concert singer whose passport was revoked and was blacklisted from the stage, screen, radio and television under the McCarran Act of the red scare of the 1950s due to his public criticism of American racist tendencies. Shakespeare actor

question

The Well-Made Play

answer

19th century development of style emphasizing cause and effect relationships. It revolves around secret known to audience but not characters, and there's a climatic moment built to in every act. It has an "obligatory scene" with a showdown, and the play is resolved with no loose ends.

question

Burlesque

answer

19th century style of popular entertainments, usually parodies of serious plays like Shakespeare and melodramas. Included woman dancers in late 19th century, and by 20th century included strippers and comedians.

question

Astor Place Riot

answer

NYC 1849, fight over English actor and American actor rivalry, Macready vs Forrest. Macready the Englishman comes to perform at Astor House, working class fans of Forrest prevent the show. When Macready tries again, thousands of people riot.

question

The Acting Profession- Touring

answer

Developed in 19th century because of expanding urban populations. Helped Ira Aldridge get successful in Europe. Combination companies (complete productions with supporting players, stars, scenery, costumes) eventually went on tour.

question

moving panorama

answer

painted settings on a long cloth to create illusion of movement, 19th century. Recreated natural environments typically (probably an influence of Romanticism)

question

elevator stage

answer

allows sections of floor or entire floor of stage to raise. 19th century development. Realism.

question

Gas lighting

answer

19th century breakthrough in stage lighting. With new lighting possibilities and intensities, you can change the architecture of the theatre if you like.

question

David Belasco

answer

20th century playwright, Madame Butterfly. Identified with literal realism, had food from restaurant being portrayed actually onstage, overhead spotlights instead of more unnatural footlights.

question

Bert Williams and George Walker

answer

cakewalkers 19th-20th century (strutting dancers); joined composers and writers to make musicals that put black performers on Broadway. Bert Williams is credited as the influence behind Amos Hart in Chicago.

question

Theatre Owners Booking Association

answer

Handled bookings for black vaudeville performers in 1920s-1930s. Handled by blacks to keep black vaudeville performers booked. Blacks reportedly thanks to this owned and operated 17 theatres.

question

Shubert Brothers

answer

20th century brothers owned at one point 75% of theatre buildings in America, commercially oriented. Still controls 50% of Broadway.

question

The Theatre Guild

answer

20th century organization, introduced many experimental Euro and American playwrights like O'Neil and new production techniques. Tried to create permanent acting company but destroyed by Depression.

question

summary of Rabinal Achi translation by Lineaweaver

answer

a Queche warrior invades Rabinal, is captured by the king's son, treated well until he will be killed, repetitive dancing and fighting (cosmic order and balance of life), plotline is circular, repetition of dialogue, Rabbinal Warrior dances in circle with people at very beginning, Queche calls for heaven and earth to hear him in defiance (different from Lucia), dance is renewed, word stalwart is repeated, circle becomes more rapid in each revolution, music stops when lasso catches Queche; written by Mayans; 2 political groups in region fight (in front of fortress the entire time), myths of origin

question

Final Judgment by Andres de Olmos

answer

far more linear, European notion of progression instead of circular, more characters than Rabinal Achi, music like in Rabinal Achi, but the trumpets are more of a summons for judgment than a dance between people at beginning (both are allegorical plays), European play, repent, 2 moral groups at odds for Lucia's soul, characters like Penitence, Time, Holy Church (see Loa's Religion and Zeal, represent what they are), one location (Judgment Day), story of ending, not origin, religious agenda, Lucia's character is a European

question

Plot-lines of Final Judgment vs. Rabinal Achi

answer

RA- circular, origin, masks, indigenous, political in regions FJ- linear, ending, Europeans (Lucia), religious warfare

question

Opposition in Final Judgment vs. Rabinal Achi

answer

FJ- good and evil waging for soul, Christ vs. Antichrist, chaft from wheat, sheep from goats, priest unwilling to help her when he hears RA- different warriors, quickly subdued vs dragged out judgment,

question

Characters in Rabinal Achi vs. Final Judgment

answer

RA- two characters named, others are dancers; indigenous; lengthy speeches; repeated dialogue; circular FJ- Lucia wants to avoid going forward; Lucia is named; Christ and Anti-Christ; most others are allegorical or unnamed Living or Dead Persons; Lucia is left alone to mourn and lament her fate;

question

The issue of the Law in Final Judgment, Loa of the Divine Narcissus, The Octoroon, Trifles, and Aftermath

answer

Final Judgment- the law is sovereign, unbreakable, just, and terrible if you break it, it does not forgive or forget Loa- the religious law can save you, it is in fact the god of seeds you want to worship; this can save lives, the law is nurturing and saving after Zeal tears a new one Octoroon- the law is a stumbling block preventing justice from being done to McClosky and prevents Zoe from being with George, keeping her a slave Trifles- as part of realism, the law is your environment that forced you to do this; forces you under a harsh husband that killed your bird and kept you trapped; the law failed you and now through the men it wants to punish you Aftermath- John has ironically protected the law during the war only to have it kill his own father over the price of cotton (another thing the law has failed), and now John is forced to take action against the law and take it into his own hands, another realism play that forced you to do it

question

compare the symbolism of Aftermath to Trifles

answer

Aftermath- the Bible on the mantel switched with the pistols, new secular ideas replacing the religion dying in the war, horror of war defeats religion, John is switching Gods, loss of compassion Trifles- bird dies in the cage, jars crack when it gets real cold (the mental stability breaking); environments have broken both people, social problems of entrapment and breaking points; spiritual vs. mental/emotional, perhaps both in a sense are emotional

question

Melodrama comparisons of Octoroon and Glance at New York

answer

stock characters, empathy, big emotional feel, use of music, episodic and fast paced, strict poetic justice O- Scudder the Yankee, Wahnotee the Indian, Zoe the Octoroon, Pete the Slave, McClosky bad guy, empathy for Zoe, episodic from auction, emotional heartbreak when virtuous, wonderful Zoe dies, suspense, good guy does not win depending on ending New York- the native Mose, the con Jake, the hick George, the upperclass Harry, empathy for New York and Mose through slang, pride feelings, episodic across places, happy ending, more music and songs than Octoroon

question

Compare the fast-paced-ness of The Jealous Officer and Octoroon

answer

JO- hormones and jealousy of Officer, repeated dialogue (also Rabinal Achi), aggressive cowardliness of Paulino, racist hide by Paulino, attempted murder of daughter Octoroon- McClosky on the run, slave's murder intensity of getting back in time to save Zoe (they fail), the auction tension building, farce- over the top, satire, Brazilian in this case, stock characters, constant running back and forth, disguise of Paulino, letters (messengers too), not plausible; a parody of Othello melodrama- over the top, satire and accused of too much in Octoroon's case, American antebellum, stock characters, more plausible, bit more of a real message

question

Compare the non-realism of Machinal and A Solid Home

answer

M- earth, subjective, one person's eyes, follows a life instead of death and crucial choices, relationship with a machine of life, subjective and not realistic, not much humor included here, ASH- afterlife, heaven, family, she doesn't choose to leave, morbid sense of humor, internal logic What does a person do?- Kill husband, decide where to rest, everyone's coming back, Lydia makes the choice to be a solid stone and get her wish, more power and choice than Mrs. Jones, person's own sense of logic (tweak realistic instead of making own logic like surrealism) surrealism dreamworld vs. expressionism subjective world, expressionism twists aspects of theatre to arrive at spiritual truth underneath what's going on, how does this world look different for this person

question

Compare the allegorical characters in Final Judgment and Loa

answer

allegory- named after what they represent, universality of message, what must I do to be saved, didactic, imagery, symbols, locations phenomenons, ideas, polar opposites FJ- Time, Church, Confession, live persons, dead, aspects of repentance or the Church or Time of Judgment, Angel, opposition of Good and Evil, European, all surrounding Lucia Loa- the couples Occident and America with Zeal and Religion; America and Occident, the west, the indigenous, the Mayans interrupted, Religion is separate from them, Zeal is the army, nurturing vs. force, methods of the Europeans, more united front of the indigenous couple

question

feminism of Trifles and Machinal expressed through the production presentations

answer

realism vs. expressionism, subjective vs. objective, environment forcing you vs. how you see your environment, spiritual underlying truth vs. what's really there, express. twists the aspects of theatre Trifles- immersion of Sleep No More in the Maricopa Hall, dim lighting, as realistic as possible, audience free to move about, directing and acting includes the feminist importance, social problems, what is the law Machinal- Tornabene, immersion of machine, mechanized movements, balcony scenes (are they escaping,) realistic costumes, feminism shown in lighting, machine scenery dishumanizing, audience looks like they're part of the machine

question

How does the Marroney lend itself to A Glance at New York and Octoroon?

answer

Melodrama, up on a stage, bigger than life not as effective with the non continental seating and surrounding crowds of Tornabene, not so much in your face, the music lends more opportunities to hide a band offstage in the Marroney, emotional bigger GNYC- more effective to show the different locations and the streets, the bar, end at a theatre, Harry is elevated more for the first opening speech, 5 minute walk better illustrated here O- higher elevation for auction, different locations, big action,

question

Author of A Glance at New York

answer

Benjamin Baker

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Author of Rabinal Achi

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Translated by Lineaweaver

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Author of Octoroon

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Dion Boucicault

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Author of Machinal

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Sophie Treadwell

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Author of Trifles

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Susan Glaspell

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Author of Final Judgment

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Andres de Olmos

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Author of Loa of the Divine Narcissus

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Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

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Author of Aftermath

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Burrill

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Author of A Solid Home

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Garro

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Author of Jealous Officer

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Luis Carlos Martins Pena

question

A Glance at New York production presentation

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multiple locations, nice looking Front Street with shabby Loafer's paradise, list the pier where George comes in, emphasize 5 minute walk from wealth to poverty, costumes and scenery and props (with exception of modern substitutes) remain near to 1848, pride identification and learning the ways of a new land relatable for new students at U of A, Marroney helps on pedestal for NYC, talk to the crowd, matches closer to the kind of theatre that would have gathered at the end of the play, melodrama, bigger, audiences purely in front and raised like a spectacle.

question

Comparisons between the presentations of Machinal and New York?

answer

both interested in keeping plays in the original style, think the themes of arriving at new location and becoming initiated, feminism and psychology of environment, Marroney vs. Tornabene for relationship of the audience, the idea of escapism in Machinal, the imagery of the plays in scenery (the machine vs. the walk of poverty... or the walk to induction in NYC?), expressionism techniques vs. melodrama, the concept of empathy for the characters

question

compare and contrast the settings in Octoroon and Aftermath

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the settings of blacks surrounded in war or near war eras (WWI and Civil War antebellum), the cabin vs. the plantation, control not reached in either location for the inhabitants, chaos of Zoe death and McClosky rampage and the unraveling of John's world, the law strangles everybody, the American idea of loyalty harsh realism, social issues, psychology, interior, what places really look like, historical accuracy vs HA exaggerated in melodrama, feelings in melodrama, exaggerations, underlying emotional and physical scoring, bigger and bolder perhaps in message, definitive ending of Octoroon vs. the loose ending of Aftermath

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realism, expressionism, surrealism

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realism- objective world, how things are, really look like, inner psychology, background, surroundings create person, less fate expressionism- subjective, through one person's eyes, spirit in touch with external reality, tech. changes to show how this person sees the world surrealism- its own interiror logic, dream world, logic of dreamer, doesn't twist reality like expressionism, morbid humor, zone outside reality

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folk drama of Aftermath by Burrill

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dialect, complicated relationship with religion, music, singing

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Why is there humor in A Solid Home?

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Mexican style, don't be so damn serious about death

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Which spacing of Machinal or Trifles better fits the feminist message?

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In pure terms of spacing, I'd say the Machinal idea because the audience is immersive in the machine Helen Jones sees, see the horrors demonstrated instead of objective realism in the Maricopa Hall; given that a Tucson audience is witnessing a play outside a theatre in such a strange and unorthodox environment for Maricopa, it may confuse them realism is objective, but perhaps the feminist message is best suited for expressionism because you see the horror demonstrated more, Machinal is a longer play expressionism plays more upon the technical elements to show the spiritual side reflected in the external reality of the piece, the imagery is powerful for the symbols in Trifles, but the wander anywhere you like might make you miss things

question

Discuss the differing role of religion in Loa of the Divine Narcissus and Final Judgment?

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Allegory plays, what must I do to be saved, imagery, stands in for something, themes, ideas often universally applied through characters' names, morality plays, directed to all people vs. Mayans in general religion is the savior, nurturing mother, Religion character in Loa reflects del a Cruz's ideas, she's his voice, contrast with manly Jesus, the Zeal comes in, but there's the idea they're separate, two characters vs. many characters, people instead of angels and demons, indigenous vs. European invaders, who is foreign? religion is more law than compassionate, religious figureheads of Jesus and the Devil are opposing, no question of other faiths, law is iron, Zeal and religion appear working simultaneous, whereas there's time provided to change in the upcoming show after Loa, Judgment gives no such time.

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Offstage violence in Trifles and Aftermath

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Trifles- we don't ever meet Mrs. Wright, symbols of birdcage, the dead bird, and the cracked jars from the climate, the women's opinion of her, agreeing not to tell, feminist message conducted through realism. Leaves open ending- do they ever find out through another way? Happens before the play Aftermath- you meet John, perhaps less objective (although still realism), different issues, symbols of Bible being replaced with pistols, passive of his friend, play ends with him storming off, violence implied, discussed during the war and how it killed his faith in God, trust, take the law into own hands realism- social problems, attempt at objectivity, background, environments create character, interior psychology- in these cases, expressed through symbolism, realistic, plausible, historical accuracy in settings, costumes, dialects in Aftermath,

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symbols in Trifles vs. Machinal

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expressionism vs realism, expressionism deals with twisting technologies for the spiritual mindset and viewpoint of one character, realism reflects psychology of Character (Freud), surroundings create character instead of reflect, props, social problems of realism bird in cage, woman feels trapped, bird killed by husband ties into her environment forcing her to do it, jars cracked due to climate, her psychology has been snapped by her environment, she does not have to be there, there's plenty of symbology and refuse left over to give insight, her woman peers can figure it out Machinal relies on expressionist symbols- the jar of rocks that kills the husband matching her lover's plight in Mexico, the typewriters and mechanical movements of the first scene, the inhumane contrast of the preacher and electric chair, the scenery usually presented in a given production to be machine-like

question

concepts of every production presentation and location chosen

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A Glance at New York- Marroney, the idea of coming to a new place and becoming initiated (since it is the U of A), applicable, 5 minute walk from extreme wealth to extreme poverty, arrival by boat, stay true to original production, end in a theatre similar to the play Octoroon- Marroney, stay true to original performance in 1859, outdoor heat, banjo and violin for George and Zoe before and after she dies, costume pieces are historically true, can be uncomfortable, but must confront past to do justice, minimalistic scenes to establish (episodic? Melodrama needs multiple locations for the episodes, easier in Marroney), realistic props, melodramatic lighting for the good guys, bad guys Trifles- feminist argument still applicable today, done at Maricopa Hall, immersive effect, dim lighting, wander into other rooms like Sleep No More (the way I've been for the exam), keep it realistic, Machinal- Tornabene, isolationalist lighting, stay true to idea and concept of mental psychology and feminism, machine like immersion scenery, gears, coordinate movements to make audience feel part of the machine, costumes are only realistic aspect, sounds of typewriters and machine like sounds

question

Contrast lighting of Octoroon and Machinal

answer

melodrama, clear good guy and bad guy, George, Zoe, McClosky, light and dark lighting, clear poetic justice, empathy for Zoe, disgust for McClosky, heat of locations/outdoors, spotlight during the auction, fade as she dies Machinal uses the isolation light, not realistic lighting, bizzare, cut Helen off from the world, a loose light in the machine, could contain her with lover in happiness scene, but she has to be separate so she can see the world around her, not a dream necessarily, but twist of reality expressionism cuts off technical elements of scenic, lighting, dialogue, acting, sound, to show spiritual viewpoint of a character (it's Helen's viewpoint), melodrama must help the poetic justice, contrast good and evil, empathy for Zoe in a good light, realistic in the case of this production's choice to address the history and past.

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1920's setting of Trifles

answer

production presentation, suffrage, helps with the woman's rights, adds to historical realism, just has the slight twist, social problems, immersion, older dorm, Maricopa is 1920s all women's dorm, perfect setting for immersion effect, history appeal and U of A appeal in location, winter break...... ugh let's get this crap over with

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