THAR Final Review – Flashcards

The word "theatre" comes from the Greek theatron, which means 1) acting place. 2) seeing place. 3) singing place. 4) listening place.

What is the relationship between "child's play" and the theatre? 1) both are unconcerned with serious issues and only focus on having fun. 2) both can be easily categorized into different genres, such as comedy and tragedy. 3) both involve acting out different roles. 4) they are, in fact, nothing alike.

Which of the following is NOT a possible meaning of "theatre"? 1) the building where the play is performed. 2) the company of players. 3) the stage and backstage spaces. 4) the occupation of acting, directing, designing, building, crewing, managing, producing, and playwriting.

The minimal requirement for a theatre building is... 1) a platform and an orchestra pit. 2) a curtain and bleachers. 3) a director and actors. 4) a place to act and a place to watch.

One term for a long-standing, collective group of theatre practitioners who have worked together is 1) corporation. 2) collection. 3) troupe. 4) posse.

Which theatrical craft fits the following description? Technicians execute in proper sequence, and with carefully rehearsed timing, the light and sound cues, the shifting of scenery, the placement and return of properties, and the assignment, laundering, repair, and change of costumes. 1) stage managing 2) producing 3) directing 4) crewing

The task of securing all necessary personnel, space, and financing; supervising all production and promotion efforts; fielding all legal matters; and distributing the proceeds derived from receipts falls to the 1) stage manager. 2) producer. 3) director. 4) manager.

The responsibilities for admitting, seating, and providing for the general comfort of the audience fall to the 1) house manager. 2) producer. 3) director. 4) designer.

The person who controls and develops the artistic product and provides it with a unified vision is the 1) builder. 2) director. 3) producer. 4) stage manager.

Which of the following theatrical crafts is usually executed away from the theatre building and its associated shops? 1) running 2) producing 3) stage managing 4) playwriting

Historically, theatres have developed in close relationship to 1) eating places. 2) medicinal baths. 3) sports activities. 4) political events.

While both theatre and sport are public spectacles, theatre differs from sports activities because 1) sports activities have more players. 2) theatre has a pre-ordained ending. 3) theatre has a central protagonist. 4) only sports involves conflict.

The distinctive feature of theatre, which separates it from other arts, is that theatre employs 1) impersonation. 2) verse. 3) scripts. 4) symbolism.

Theatre is an art because it 1) is not always enjoyable. 2) is always restricted by form. 3) combines emotions, intellect, and aesthetics. 4) provides an escape from life.

Denis Diderot's idea of the paradox of the actor states that onstage 1) the actor undertakes work to create something that is more akin to play. 2) while the actor performs a fictional story she/he believes in what she or his is doing. 3) the actor is in public yet self-absorbed. 4) while the actor disappears or seems lifeless, the simulated character seems to live.

The English word for person comes from the Latin word for 1) humor. 2) appearance. 3) mask. 4) outfit.

In the ancient Greek theatre, what physical and symbolic element separated the actors from the audience? 1) The actors spoke in verse. 2) The actors wore masks. 3) The actors' names were printed in the program. 4) The actors danced in special costumes.

Which mode of performance makes the drama "dramatic" as opposed to simply theatrical, enabling the audience to concentrate on the events that are being and not on their method of demonstration? 1) representational 2) presentational 3) transparent 4) imperative

Which mode of performance acknowledges the audience—as in the case of the nightclub performer who sings, dances, jokes, and responds overtly to applause? 1) The soliciting mode. 2) The entertaining mode. 3) The presentational mode. 4) The representational mode.

The mode of performance in which the audience watches interactions that are staged as if no audience were present at all is called 1) the presentational mode. 2) the representational mode. 3) the feigned mode. 4) the treacherous mode.

Coleridge's term for the audience participation engendered by way of empathy was 1) willing suspension of disbelief. 2) inadvertent involvement. 3) harmonic conversion. 4) synergy.

Theatrical performance differs from other kinds of performance because 1) the audience is charged an admission fee. 2) theatre is live, scripted, and rehearsed. 3) theatre employs dialect and scenery. 4) theatre uses actors.

Why did the playwright-director Bertolt Brecht use songs, signs, chalk talks, arguments, and slide projections in his productions? 1) He wanted to encourage active audience participation through empathy. 2) He wanted to discourage stage "magic" in order to appeal to the audience directly about social issues. 3) He wanted to create a more realistic vision of life. 4) He had no specific intention but introduced these elements spontaneously, according to the inclinations of his acting troupe.

How does a theatrical performance differ from a filmed performance? 1) The theatrical performance has a script whereas filmed performances are most often impromptu. 2) Regional dialect is more effectively used in film than in theatre. 3) Symbolism is far more important in theatrical performances than in film. 4) The theatrical performance is live, with the audience and performers, who are aware of each other and mutually interact in their shared presence.

Which of the following is true of the relationship between the play script and the performance? 1) The script is a silhouette or outline of the play itself, which fully exists in performance only. 2) The script is the master plan, containing indications of the gestures, expressions, and movement that the actors need to mount it faithfully. 3) Most scripts in the past were completed and published prior to the initial production. 4) Scripts in the past always emerged out of improvisations done prior to performance.

What is a play? 1) a story in dialogue form written in a book 2) a single oral performance of a story 3) an action focused around a particular conflict, which gives the action significance 4) performance on a stage using live actors and musical accompaniment

The word "drama" comes from the Greek word dran, which means... 1) to make 2) to play 3) to do 4) to dance

In Greek tragedy, the central character 1) undergoes a change that leads to his or her demise 2) fails to understand his or her fortune 3) always descends from the gods 4) always has the option of avoiding conflicts

The purging or cleansing of the audience's pity and terror at the climax of a tragedy is called 1) hamartia 2) cothurnoi 3) anagnorisis 4) catharsis

Which of the following is true about the differences between tragedy and comedy? 1) Tragedy typically deals with great people, whereas comedy deals with ordinary people 2) Tragedy leads to the audience feeling depressed, whereas comedy leads to the audience feeling better about their lives 3) Tragedy is always about the Gods, whereas comedies are only about mortals 4) Tragedy is philosophical and academic, whereas comedy cannot be about complicated ideas

Tragic suffering differs from pathetic or maudlin feelings in that 1) the cause of tragic suffering is narrated rather than dramatized 2) tragic suffering is incapable of connecting to divinity 3) the tragic hero take on a bold and heroic dimension because he or she faces huge odds 4) the tragic hero's greatest virtue is humility rather than courage

Why do comedies typically go out-of-date more quickly than tragedies? 1) Comedies were historically written on parchment, whereas tragedies were inscribed on stone 2) Comedies used the common slang of the time, whereas tragedies are written in more refined language 3) Comedies are more topical and deal with ordinary life at the time they are written 4) Comedies utilize more stagecraft and precise timing than tragedies

Comedies that use more bleak humor in dealing with serious themes are known as 1) dark comedies 2) serious comedies 3) light comedies 4) farces

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is different than its classically tragic ancestors because 1) contains scenes of absurd humor 2) does not contain Gods, rather contemporary forces 3) does not end in a death or grisly demise 4) is much longer than classical tragedy

The Greek term for the "carrier of the nation" in a tragedy is 1) antagonist 2) protagonist 3) catharsis 4) hamartia

A play that dramatizes the key events in the life of a king or head of state, such as Shakespeare's Henry IV, is called 1) a history play 2) a tragicomdey 3) a dark comedy 4) a burlesque

Ultimately the practice of dividing plays into genre is 1) mandated by professional organizations 2) completely objective in deciding which play belongs to which genre 3) always subjective because each play is unique 4) only observed by academics and critics

Which dramatic genre purports to be serious but, in fact, deals with human issues on only the most superficial level, embellished with spectacular staging, flamboyant dialogue, and highly suspenseful and contrived plotting? 1) dark comedy 2) tragicomedy 3) melodrama 4) farce

Which dramatic genre offers a wild, hilarious treatment of a trivial theme, usually based on a stock component like identical twins, switched identities, lovers in closets, and might include full-stage chases, misheard instructions, various disrobings, discoveries, and disappearances? 1) dark comedy 2) melo drama 3) farce 4) tragicomedy

Which one of the following is part of the horizontal axis of dramaturgy 1) pre-play 2) conventions 3) plot 4) theme

The six components of a play which Aristotle lists, in order of importance, are 1) script, stage, actor, playwright, choral leader, and government support 2) plot, character, theme, diction, music, and spectacle 3) irony, pastoral, idyll, satire, drama, and humor 4) reversal, tragic flaw, recognition, catharsis, inciting incident and subplots

What is the difference between plot and story? 1) the terms are synonymous 2) plot refers to the structure of events; story refers to a narrative of what happens in a play 3) a plot has a moral; a story has suspense 4) a plot can be turned into a play, but only a story can be turned into prose fiction

Which element of drama refers not only to the pronunciation of spoken dialogue but also to the literary nature of the play's text, including its tone, imagery, articulation, and use of such literary forms as verse, rhyme, metaphor, jest, apostrophe, and epigram? 1) episodic discourse 2) theme 3) diction 4) alliteration

Which elements describes the play's use of rhythm and sounds, either by way of instrumental composition or the orchestration of such noises as muffled drumbeats, gunshots, special effects, and vocal tones? 1) diction 2) syllabic counterpoint 3) music 4) orchestra

The visual aspect of the play, including the scenery, costumes, lighting, make-up, and the overall look of the stage are included in the element known as 1) allusion 2) intermezzo 3) cortina magica 4) spectacle

The agreement between the audience and the actor, which includes a whole set or tacit understandings that form the context of play watching, is called 1) spectacle 2) convention 3) theme 4) ars poetica

Background information, presented within the play, that the audience must possess in order to understand the action of the play is called 1) recognition 2) exposition 3) denouement 4) paraphrase

Which of the following offers a way that the playwright can present a play's exposition? 1) the common knowledge about the subject promulgated through public opinion 2) a spoken prologue that directly provides information 3) a talk show during which the actor relays information to the viewing audience 4) posters or playbills which tell the audience what will happen in the play

In play construction, the single action that initiates the major conflict of the play is called 1) exposition 2) inciting incident 3) characterization 4) denouement

A play's final scene, action, or lines that indicate the end of conflicts, and possibly even bring about resolution, is called the 1) pathos 2) peripeteia 3) anagnorisis 4) denouement

Genre means category or kind True or false

The central character in any type of drama is called the tragic hero True or false

The modern play that challenges Aristotle's definition of tragedy because the lead character is a "low man" is Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman True or false

Aristotle's term for the play's abstracted intellectual content is "thesis" True or false

According to Aristotle, it is impossible to break down the elements that make tragedy effective True or false

When an actor turns to speak directly to the audience, unheard by the other characters, it is known as "side-speak" True or false

Some playwrights criticize the primary Aristotle gives to plot as a recipe that leads to mechanical plays True or false

Procession and the Ancient Greek proton are two examples of ways in which theatre artists publicized their plays in ages past True or false

The audience is not a part of the definition of conventions of the theatre True or false

The ancient principle that an actor must somehow act from both the "inside" as well as the outside is known as 1) mimesis of the ancients 2) paradox of acting 3) hypocrisy of acting 4) exertion of imagination

The form of acting that relies on physical and vocal skills and a variety of performance technique is 1) classical 2) acting "from the inside" 3) planned 4) acting "from the outside"

The kind of acting where the actor enters the mind of the character is classified as 1) acting "from the inside" 2) acting "from the outside" 3) intense 4) romantic

The Roman poet Horace said in order to move the audience, first you must 1) show your emotions 2) play serious characters 3) be moved yourself 4) be physically interesting

The Frenchman who said that actors must play from thought, rather than from the heart, is 1) Moliere 2) Jean-Paul Belmondo 3) Denis Diderot 4) Beaumarchais

The acting teacher who said the actor must seek to solve the "problem" or goal of the character was 1) Stanislavsky 2) Tchaikovsky 3) Chekhov 4) Meyerhold

The American artist most responsible for changing Stanislavsky's system into the Method is 1) Theodule Ribot 2) Sanford Meisner 3) Lee Strasberg 4) Al Pacino

Acting virtuosity consists of two fundamental features: 1) a negative mind and a positive body 2) speaking and singing 3) an expressive voice and a supple body 4) good intellect and strong emotions

Besides virtuosity and conviction, great acting also requires 1) mind 2) emotion 3) presence 4) the ability to cry on demand

Contemporary actor training has two distinct phases 1) studying the text and analyzing the contact 2) feeling the emotions and expressing the actions 3) developing the actor's approach to a role and training the instrument 4) conditioning the body and the mind

While teachers and scientists have devoted themselves to perfecting voice and speech, the fundamental question of how the voice actually works is 1) more a matter of mental, not physical, training 2) irrelevant to the concerns of an actor 3) a precise issue of physics that it too complex to relate in simple terms 4) still a mystery and subject of fierce dispute

After vocal training, the second element of the actor's physiological instrument is 1) movement 2) singing 3) stage combat training 4) dance

Which of the following is NOT part of actor's psychological instrument? 1) making the artifice of theatre real enough to convey reality 2) imagining oneself in an interpersonal situation created by the play 3) terrifying oneself enough to actually be possessed with stage fright 4) becoming a creative force that makes characterization into a high art

The actor's zadacha can be translated roughly as her 1) character 2) goal 3) lines 4) cues

The first element of the actor's approach is the zadacha; the second element is the 1) knowledge of the script 2) awareness of the audience 3) tactics needed to achieve goals 4) knowledge of the play's history

The actor's professional routine consists of 1) agents, contracts, and salaries 2) auditions, rehearsals, and performances 3) lines, memorization, and performing 4) blocking, modulating, and polishing

For an actor, the rehearsals of a play are 1) boring repetitions to be endured 2) a time to get everything right 3) a time for creative experimentation 4) when the director controls everything

Among other things, successful acting demands 1) union membership 2) acting for its own sake 3) knowing nothing else but acting 4) an open mind

Blocking refers to setting stage movements True or false

The playwright is the _____ of nearly every modern theatrical production. 1) historical basis 2) final authority 3) point of origin 4) ultimate interpreter

The most common perception of the playwright's role since the age of romanticism is of 1) a theatre co-worker and mentor. 2) an isolated observer and social critic. 3) the usual director or producer of his or her work. 4) the resident authority and dramaturg.

A play achieves its final form only when it is 1) published by a reputable publisher. 2) studied in a literature class. 3) performed on the stage. 4) accepted for a staged reading.

The playwright works with two fundamental tools: 1) words and sentences. 2) scenes and acts. 3) dialogue and physical action. 4) narration and conversation.

Which of the following is NOT a demand of credibility? 1) Characters act instinctively 2) Characters are internally consistent 3) Characters always use good diction 4) Characters act like human beings

The quality of a play that draws us into its world is 1) gravity. 2) character believability. 3) intrigue. 4) empathy.

A common fault of beginning playwrights is 1) shortness of action. 2) lines that lack speakability. 3) too much detail. 4) unclear plot.

When the specific features of a play fortifies our insight into its world, we say it is endowed with 1) active characters. 2) intricate detail. 3) richness of detail. 4) intensity of will.

Depth of characterization requires that characters be 1) independent, sensible, reasonable, and worthwhile. 2) correct, honest, and understandable. 3) funny and tragic. 4) expressive, emotional, excitable, and enlightened.

The terms "gravity" and "pertinence" refer to a script's 1) use of props and stage design. 2) seriousness of theme and relevance to contemporary society. 3) development of its characters. 4) grave and serious tone of dialogue.

Dramatic intensity results from 1) the skillful use of compression in a script. 2) the playwright's care with a play's economy. 3) the careful development of character interactions and goals. 4) All of the answers are correct.

A play that tells the story of thirty years in only two hours demonstrates an example of 1) historicity. 2) intensity. 3) compression. 4) All of the answers are correct.

A script's structure can determine the success of its 1) thematic development. 2) credibility. 3) sense of intrigue. 4) All of the answers are correct.

Three strong building blocks in the process of playwriting are 1) dialogue, conflict, and structure. 2) plot, theme, and characterization. 3) story, idea, and textuality. 4) action, re-action, and climax.

Theresa Rebeck's early plays are known for their 1) classical aphorisms. 2) inclusion of multiple languages. 3) sharp wit and comical, feminist edge. 4) silence.

The Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning author of Angels in America and Homebody/Kabul is 1) David Henry Hwang. 2) Tony Kushner. 3) Neil LaBute. 4) Sarah Ruhl.

The playwright whose first Broadway play focuses on the nineteenth-century medical establishment's attempts to "cure" women from hysteria is 1) Theresa Rebeck. 2) Suzan-Lori Parks. 3) Sarah Ruhl. 4) Neil LaBute.

_____ not only won rave reviews in both Chicago and New York, its success also led to social-action groups committed to remedying the real human tragedies displayed in the play. 1) The Sinners' Place 2) M. Butterfly 3) Homebody/Kabul 4) Ruined

David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly contains elements of 1) Western romanticism. 2) Asian theatre. 3) Chinese opera. 4) All of the answers are correct.

In a sense, we are all playwrights, because we dream and imagine scenarios and dialogue. True or false

The four basic staging formats of modern theatre are 1) proscenium, thrust, arena, and black box. 2) outdoor, indoor, environmental, and miniature. 3) backstage, onstage, stage right, and stage left. 4) cinema, theatre, projection, and experimental.

Which of the following is an element of theatre design? 1) scenery 2) lighting 3) sound 4) All of the answers are correct.

The first great period of scene design began in 1) ancient Greece with the dithyramb. 2) England during the Elizabethan era. 3) Italy during the Renaissance. 4) Europe during the Middle Ages.

Contemporary scenery is categorized as either 1) realistic or metaphoric. 2) real or imaginary. 3) practical or impractical. 4) large or small.

Who developed the modern approach to metaphoric scenery? 1) Inigo Jones and Giacomo Torelli 2) Adolphe Appia and Gordon Craig 3) Hayden Griffin 4) Ming Cho Lee

The most effective scene design today 1) serves mainly to highlight the actors' skills. 2) wows audiences with its spectacle regardless of the dramatic action. 3) is intrinsic to the action. 4) sets up obstacles for the actors, so the audience sees real struggle onstage

The traditional building blocks of stage scenery are 1) walls, steps, and platforms. 2) platforms, flats, and draperies. 3) curtains, lights, and walls. 4) doors, windows, and platforms.

Sketches, renderings, and models are primarily 1) visualizations. 2) maps that dictate exactly how to build the scenery. 3) used in the final steps of the scene design process. 4) primitive devices useful only during the creative process.

The earliest theatres created lighting effects by 1) timing the plays with the sunrise and sunset. 2) developing halos for Jesus and the disciples. 3) using oil lamps for illumination. 4) All of the answers are correct.

The use of projection design in recent Broadway plays has been met with 1) critical disdain and no major awards given to its designers. 2) unanimous approval and praise for taking productions to a new technical level. 3) awards and praise for some uses, but also negativity in other incarnations. 4) a lack of any recognition, since projections have been used in only two productions in the modern era.

The primary considerations of contemporary lighting design are 1) brightness and color. 2) visibility and focus. 3) intensity and luminescence. 4) mood and texture.

Lighting for Bertolt Brecht's "didactic" theatre is 1) dim, brightly colored, and unmagical. 2) bright, uncolored, and unmagical. 3) dim, colored, and magical. 4) bright, colored, and magical.

Which of the following is NOT one of the functions of contemporary costuming? 1) recalling its roots in ancient ceremony 2) an expression of character individuality 3) establishing fashion trends 4) wearable clothing

Which of the following is NOT an important step in costume design? 1) cutting 2) draping 3) stitching 4) cleaning

Making new fabric appear old and used is called 1) trashing. 2) aging. 3) cutting. 4) dyeing.

Good costume design creates a sense of 1) character. 2) period. 3) style. 4) All of the answers are correct.

Like costuming, makeup serves _____ functions. 1) colorful and textural 2) ceremonial and illustrative 3) old and young 4) imaginative and realistic

Which of the following was NOT a sound-effect device of the pre-modern theatre? 1) thunder sheet 2) rain drums 3) thunder runs 4) telephone bells

Sound enhancement often employed in the contemporary theatre includes 1) effects. 2) music. 3) amplification. 4) All of the answers are correct.

The person who generally runs the show and calls the cues is the 1) producer. 2) director. 3) production stage manager. 4) technical director.

In the area of lighting, the hanging of lights is supervised by the 1) lighting designer. 2) technical director. 3) master electrician. 4) director.

The two levels of work a director has to undertake are 1) internal and external 2) classical and romantic 3) technical and artistic 4) laissez-faire and controlling

The Greeks called the director didaskalos, which means 1) "leader" 2) "artist" 3) "didactic" 4) "teacher"

Who was the first director of the modern era? 1) Constantine Stanislavski 2) George II, Duke of Saxe Meiningen 3) Andre Antoine 4) George Spelvin

What is the real importance of the directors of realism in the twentieth century? 1) They established conventions for how to block the action of a play 2) They opened the theatre to deeper psychological interpretation 3) They challenged actors to be honest in their line delivery 4) They re-discovered the classical theatre

Who was the most influential proponent of antirealistic directing? 1) Otto Brahm 2) Andre Antoine 3) Edwin Booth 4) Gordon Craig

The contemporary director's practice synthesizes the elements of 1) acting technique, design drafting, and financial management 2) script, design, and performance 3) rehearsals, scenery, and critical reception 4) all of the answers are correct

Which of the following is NOT a possible responsibility of the producer? 1) hiring the director 2) establishing the budget 3) selecting the play 4) staging the play

The principal functions of the dramaturg are to 1) cast the actors and control the budget 2) provide historical context, help uncover meanings, and act as critic 3) legally protect the production from intellectual theft and criminal litigation 4) set the tone and establish the style

Which of the following is NOT part of the implementation period? 1) staging 2) actor coaching 3) designing 4) pacing

How does the design phase generally take place? 1) in personal conferences 2) in solitary inspiration 3) through communications with the producer 4) over the phone with actors, who defend their appropriateness to the role

In the audition process, casting decisions are often made 1) only after long conversations with the actors 2) before the director even sees the actors in the flesh 3) in the first 5 to 30 seconds of 2 to 5 minute auditions 4) over the phone with actors, who defend their appropriateness

The most obvious directorial function is 1) casting 2) play selection 3) staging 4) actor coaching

Which of the following is NOT a part of staging? 1) blocking 2) business 3) fights 4) dialogue

In the final rehearsals, the director's job shifts to 1) pacing the physical movement 2) coordinating the play's elements 3) working on memorization with the actors 4) ensuring that the play matches the vision of the playwright

In the technical rehearsal, the director 1) releases control to the actors and technicians 2) intensifies control over the production 3) adds new concepts to the play 4) makes sure his or her concept is fulfilled at least halfway before bowing out

Recently more directors have learned their craft through 1) rigorously researching classic books on directing 2) using new media technology to see footage of old productions 3) training and education in graduate programs 4) returning to the model of the actor/manager

Andre Antoine founded the Theatre Libre True or false

The term "off-book" means the actors have learned their lines and basic blocking True or false

An actor's "business" refers to his or her small scale movement True or false

Which of the following is considered a form of dramatic criticism? 1) academic essays 2) reviews posted on blogs 3) newspaper reviews 4) All of the answers are correct

Which of the following is a critical perspective? 1) social significance 2) capacity to entertain 3) artistic quality 4) all of the answers are correct.

The best productions present crucial issues in all their complexity and ... 1) despair at finding a solution. 2) make us laugh anyway. 3) offer possible solutions. 4) become dogmatic.

The greatest plays transcend social and political attitudes to ... 1) amuse and delight us. 2) show the flaws of society. 3) express a playwright's agenda. 4) confront the hopes of humanity.

Which of the following is NOT an aesthetic judgment of the critic? 1) Does the play excite our emotions? 2) Does the play seem original? 3) Are the actors convincing? 4) Does the play use coarse language?

Plays that refer back to themselves are called... 1) referential theatre. 2) reflexive dramas. 3) metatheatre. 4) backlash plays.

The critical definition of "entertainment" is 1) that which provides your money's worth. 2) that which amuses you. 3) that which helps you escape. 4) that which holds your attention.

"Instant criticism" is 1) booing and loudly protesting during a performance. 2) reviews written immediately after a performance. 3) withholding applause. 4) reviews published within a year after the show.

Scholarly critics without deadlines or space restrictions 1) analyze plays more rigorously. 2) evaluate plays with more complexity. 3) uncover hidden structural aspects of the play. 4) All of the answers are correct.

The discipline of performance studies takes the view that 1) theatre must be apolitical and purely 'aesthetic' 2) all of life can be viewed as a form of theatre 3) America has never truly had a theatrical culture 4) theatre must always pay tribute to the classics

The effective modern critic is 1) observant, informed, sensitive, demanding and articulate. 2) verbose, vital, and varietal. 3) modern, classic, reliable and piquant. 4) reasoned, fair, honest and articulate.

The definition of "dramatic criticism" is 1) an identification of all the errors in the production. 2) an analysis of the intentions of the theatre artists. 3) a public form of postplay dramatic analysis. 4) a commentary on the quality of the show.

In the commercial Broadway theatre, favorable reviews are 1) not a major factor in box office sales. 2) basically a short-term factor in the play's overall success. 3) read by only a few people. 4) crucial to the success or failure of a production.

The two most widely accepted qualities that combined to mark the origin of theatre are 1) history and politics. 2) the Platonic and the Socratic. 3) storytelling and ritual. 4) the teachings of the church and the wealth of the nobility.

Which continent was the first to witness dance drama? 1) Europe 2) Asia 3) South America 4) Africa

The Egyptian springtime dramas featured tragedy giving way to 1) tears and frustration. 2) excitement and celebration. 3) rejuvenation and hope. 4) hope and suffering.

The Abydos Passion Play was performed to coincide with what event? 1) planting the new harvest. 2) the coronation of the Pharaoh. 3) the lunar eclipse. 4) the unveiling of a new pyramid.

The four extant Greek playwrights are 1) Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, and Ovid. 2) Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes. 3) Menander, Thucydides, Homer, and Euclid. 4) Oscar, Kermit, Ernie, and Bert.

The Greek deity considered to be the founding deity of Western drama is 1) Dionysus. 2) Zeus. 3) Hera. 4) Pluto.

The City Dionysia was 1) a weeklong springtime festival and play contest. 2) a small village on the Aegean Sea. 3) a yearly ritual sacrifice. 4) another name for the City of Athens.

The extant comic playwrights for the Roman theatre are 1) Abbot and Costello. 2) Portias and Tortias. 3) Aristophanes and Menander. 4) Plautus and Terence.

Which of the following describes the drama of the medieval theatre? 1) a series of playlets based on Bible stories 2) written in the vernacular 3) performed in sequence on a series of stages 4) All of the answers are correct. 5) None of the answers are correct.

The 'mystery' plays of the Middle Ages were performed on 1) stages built within the church. 2) the steps of the churches and parish halls. 3) wagon-mounted stages or mansions. 4) a series of permanent stages built around the town square.

The word renaissance literally means 1) "renovation." 2) "rebirth." 3) "classical study." 4) "art."

Where were the centers of growth for the period of the "Royal Theatre"? 1) London, Paris, and Rome 2) London, Paris, and Madrid 3) Amsterdam, Brussels, and Vienna 4) Rome, Paris, and Prague

The audience of the Royal Theatre was 1) mostly middle class and bourgeois. 2) restricted to aristocrats and nobility. 3) serious theater-goers. 4) a diverse group of people.

The Royal Theatre of Great Britain is called the 1) Revolutionary theatre. 2) Jacobean theatre. 3) Restoration theatre. 4) Royalty theatre.

The term for the dramaturgy of the Royal era was 1) neoclassicism. 2) neo-drama. 3) revelationism. 4) new structuralism.

Which of the following Greek playwrights wrote Antigone? 1) Aeschylus 2) Sophocles 3) Euripides 4) Aristophanes

In which city does the play Antigone take place? 1) Athens 2) Sparta 3) Troy 4) Thebes

Why has Creon forbidden a proper burial for Eteocles and not Polyneices? 1) Eteocles was his son. 2) Eteocles was his favorite. 3) Polyneices raised an army against Eteocles. 4) Eteocles raised an army against Polyneices.

Ismene helps her sister bury her brother True or false

Ms. Mann's "Outbursts" in her text are equivalent to what the original playwright intended to be Choral Odes. True or false

What is the name of the blind prophet 1) Haemon 2) Oedipus 3) Tiresias 4) Eteocles

Creon's action to condemn Antigone ultimately leads to the death of his son and wife True or false

Where is the cast suggested to be during their "Outbursts"? 1) onstage 2) backstage 3) around the stage 4) in the audience

Generally, Asian theatre is more _____ than Western theatre. 1) visual and sensual 2) literary and intellectual 3) visceral and pedantic 4) dance and spectacle

Dramatic language in Asian drama is valued for its 1) clear meaning. 2) structural integrity. 3) sound more than meaning. 4) clarity of imagery.

Which of the following does NOT describe Asian theatre? 1) a strong emphasis on storytelling 2) broadly stylized 3) highly experimental 4) intense apprenticeships

An important ancient treatise on Indian theatre is called the 1) Mahabharata. 2) Sankritia. 3) Mogadishu. 4) Natyasastra.

Sanskrit theatre was performed 1) outdoors in a courtyard. 2) outdoors in an amphitheatre. 3) indoors in a roofed building. 4) indoors with an open roof.

What is the most widely known form of contemporary Indian dance drama? 1) Natyasastra 2) kathakali 3) kabuki 4) Sensuan

The Mandarin term xiqu refers to Chinese opera but literally means 1) "tuneful theatre." 2) "songspiel." 3) "not a drama." 4) "dance drama."

Zaju, an early Chinese opera form, is characterized by 1) serious dialogue and tragic themes. 2) elaborate sets and costumes. 3) music, dance, acrobatics, and clowning. 4) long soliloquies and verse.

Today there are as many as _____ variations of xiqu. 1) 120 2) 240 3) 360 4) 480

The xiqu performers must master 1) singing. 2) acting and movement. 3) martial arts and acrobatics. 4) All of the answers correct. 5) None of the answers are correct.

Which of the following describes the vocal quality of Chinese opera? 1) much like Italian opera 2) high-pitched falsetto 3) rough vocal tones, similar to that of American rock music 4) unaccompanied singing

The language used in nõ theatre is best characterized as 1) political and anti-authoritarian 2) medieval, elliptical, and obscure. 3) clear and expressive of universal truths 4) in fact, nõ is a silent theatre without any language

The two great Japanese theatre forms are 1) comedy and tragedy. 2) Senyan and Banyan. 3) nõ and kabuki. 4) xiqu and zaju.

The scenery for nõ drama is 1) elaborate. 2) abstract. 3) realistic. 4) a painted pine tree.

Kabuki plays fall into the following two general categories: 1) farce and comedy. 2) jidaimono and sewamono. 3) religious drama and secular drama. 4) sensae and ponsae.

Domestic kabuki plays often end in 1) marriage. 2) double suicide. 3) murder. 4) divorce.

The two principal kabuki acting styles are 1) "painted style" and "unvarnished style" 2) "soft style" and "rough style" 3) "old style" and "new style" 4) "ocean style" and "desert style"

Which of the following is NOT a tenet of realism? a) demanding abstraction b) renouncing idealized scenery c) eschewing verse d) renouncing stylized costumes

The aesthetic of "the fourth wall removed" sees theatre as a) a historical paradigm. b) a living laboratory. c) an imaginary construct. d) a fish bowl with no privacy.

Who is the playwright most responsible for introducing realism to the world? a) George Bernard Shaw b) Henrik Ibsen c) Jean Racine d) Arthur Miller

Who of the following is NOT one of the early realists? a) Jean Giradoux b) George Bernard Shaw c) Eugene Brieux d) Gerhart Hauptman

The goal of naturalism in the theatre was to a) portray life in a "natural" way. b) eliminate all dramatic convention. c) emphasize theatrical realism. d) create an exciting spectacle.

Realism reached its stylistic apogee in the works of a) Andre Antoine. b) Maxim Gorky. c) Arthur Schnitzler d) Anton Chekhov.

Who was the first great American playwright? a) William Inge b) Tennessee Williams c) Eugene O'Neill d) Robert Anderson

Which director did Chekhov collaborate with to great success? a) Maxim Gorki b) Konstantin Stanislavsky c) André Antoine d) Yousef Fedorovich

Chekov's outstanding technique in playwriting was to a) exploit character differences. b) examine ethical and moral concepts. c) develop plots and themes between the lines. d) deplore political intrigue.

Who of the following is NOT among the American realists? a) August Wilson b) Arthur Miller c) Luigi Pirandello d) Tennessee Williams

Of all modern theatre movements, romanticism has had the most pervasive and long-lived effect. True or False

The goal of realism is to attain a "likeness to life." True or False

Realism has lost its influence in today's theatre. True or False

Ibsen's plays are populated with extraordinary people of royal lineage. True or False

Ibsen's plays were considered repulsive in his time. True or False

Hedda and Eilert Loevborg share a common vision of Eilert wearing... a) a crown of vine leaves. b) a toga. c) a golden mask. d) nothing.

Why is Eilert Loevborg arrested? a) Adultery b) Plagiarism c) Theft d) Assaulting a police officer

Where did Hedda get her pistols? a) It is never mentioned in the play b) From Judge Brack c) As a wedding gift d) From her father

What happens to Eilert Loevborg's lost manuscript? a) Thesman publishes it under his own name. b) It is never found. c) Judge Brack give it to Mrs. Elvsted. d) Hedda burns it.

Hedda's greatest fear is ________. a) a relapse by Loevborg b) living a middle-class life c) her husband's infidelity d) a public scandal

Mrs. Elvsted reveals what important secret to Hedda in Act I? a) Eilert has become an alcoholic again. b) She left her husband and children to follow Eilert. c) George Tesman is a reformed homosexual. d) Auntie Rena has died.

Mrs. Elvsted and George Tesman collaborate to _______. a) find out if Hedda is sleeping with Judge Brack b) compose a song about Hedda's passing c) expose Eilert's alcoholism d) rewrite Eilert's book

Eilert Loevborg's newest manuscript is about what? a) Norwegian art throughout history b) The future of the world c) The first translation of Mandarin language outside Asia d) The art of courtly love and erotica e) A play that solely takes place in a living room

Who raised George Tesman? a) Juliana Tesman and Aunt Rina b) Mr. and Mrs. Elvsted c) Joachim and Jenna Tesman d) General Gabler

Mrs. Elvsted often refers to Eilert Loevborg's new manuscript as ______________. a) a work of genius b) a child c) groundbreaking d) poory formatted

Where does Judge Brack say Eilert's body was found? a) University library b) in Miss Diana's boudoir c) Tesman's living room d) Hedda's bedroom

What is Hedda's final action before committing suicide? a) Writing a love letter to Loevborg b) Playing piano c) Bequeathing her pistols to Judge Brack d) Cleaning the house

George Tesman is __________. a) medical doctor b) military officer c) chef d) professor

Antirealism had its beginnings in 1) anarchism. 2) expressionism. 3) absurdism. 4) symbolism.

Which of the following is NOT a tenet of the symbolist movement? 1) purity of vision 2) poetic encapsulations 3) fantastic visual effects 4) careful lifelike detail

The "battle of the theatres" in Paris was between 1) Giradoux and Sartre. 2) Antoine and Fort. 3) Gide and Maeterlinck. 4) Montmarte and Lyon.

Which is NOT a tenet of postmodernism? 1) a lack of unifying theme 2) "citing" elements of theatre 3) using only autobiography as a starting point 4) marking "the death of isms"

Antirealists of the mid-20th century are primarily given credit for 1) returning to the classical age. 2) creating new styles of performance. 3) developing a cohesive set of conventions. 4) angering religious organizations.

Which of the following does NOT describe antirealistic theater? 1) It uses symbol and metaphor. 2) It elucidates with parable and allegory. 3) It emphasizes theatricality. 4) It stresses dialectical discourse.

The glory of the stylized theatre does all of the following EXCEPT 1) refuse to be swamped by themes. 2) wallow in frustration. 3) lift the audience. 4) highlight poetry over alienation.

The term "avant-garde" refers to 1) a fencing term. 2) shock troops. 3) an art movement. 4) French cuisine.

____ is a savage satire on the theme of power. 1) Marat/Sade 2) No Exit 3) Ubu Roi 4) Merde mama

_________ is a form of theatre emphasizing shocking dialogue, piercing sounds, exaggerated scenery, and bright lights. 1) Extremism 2) Expressionism 3) Impressionism 4) Epic theatre

_____ is an almost textbook example of an expressionistic play. 1) Ubu Roi 2) The Iceman Cometh 3) The Hairy Ape 4) The Lesson

A series of essays by Antonin Artaud, calling for "no more masterpieces" and cruelty as the basis for theatre, is titled 1) The Bucket of Blood. 2) The Theater and Its Double. 3) The Quintessence of Ibsenism. 4) The Theatre in Doubt.

Theatre that is obsessed with the futility of action and the pointlessness of direction is called 1) philosophical melodrama. 2) the theatre of the absurd. 3) the theatre of alienation. 4) the theatre of despair.

Who of the following is NOT considered part of the theatre of the absurd? 1) Samuel Beckett 2) Eugene Ionesco 3) Harold Pinter 4) Bertolt Brecht

_____ is the archetypal absurdist play, portraying two old men in a constantly recurring series of incidents. 1) Waiting for Lefty 2) The Balcony 3) Waiting for Godot 4) The Homecoming

Which of the following is NOT a quality of Brecht's epic theatre? 1) the use of masks, songs, and satire 2) an indulgence in sentimentality 3) a highly political content 4) the "alienation" of the audience from the play

Which is the longest-running musical in history? 1) Cats 2) A Chorus Line 3) The Fantasticks 4) Oklahoma!

Which of the following genres is NOT distinguished by utilizing music in some of its plays? 1) Shakespearean comedy 2) Brecht's theatre of alienation 3) Molière's comedie ballets for Louis XIV 4) Shaw's theatre of ideas

Which is widely considered to be the first Broadway musical in America, opening in 1866? 1) Old Nelly Bly 2) Showboat 3) The Black Crook 4) The Mikado

When did the "golden age" for the American musical occur? 1) within the last twenty years 2) 1900 - 1960 3) 1920 - 1950 4) 1890 - 1930

Who of the following did NOT write golden age musicals? 1) George and Ira Gershwin 2) Cole Porter 3) Rodgers and Hart 4) Sondheim and Lapine

Which of the following stylistic touches comprised a component of early musical comedy? 1) laughably simple plots 2) romantic comedy characters 3) women in skimpy costumes 4) All of the answers are correct.

The era of musical drama came of age with Rodgers and Hart's 1) Showboat. 2) Pal Joey. 3) Call Me Madam. 4) Damn Yankees.

Which musical was cancelled by government officials one hour before its opening, only to be staged later that night with no scenery or costuming? 1) Porgy and Bess 2) On the Town 3) Cradle Will Rock 4) Darktown Follies

Who was the composer of On the Town and West Side Story? 1) Richard Rodgers 2) Leonard Bernstein 3) Andrew Lloyd Webber 4) Cole Porter

Plays created in the second phase of the musical's golden age are characterized by an increasing emphasis on 1) frantic dancing and clowning. 2) serious plots and sophisticated music. 3) verbal and physical humor. 4) dense and complicated music.

_____, by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, represents one of the early pieces of fully acted—not just sung—vocal literature. 1) Show Boat 2) My Fair Lady 3) Lady in the Dark 4) Of Thee I Sing

Which of the following musicals won the Pulitzer Prize for drama? 1) Oklahoma! 2) Guys and Dolls 3) The Phantom of the Opera 4) Of Thee I Sing

Whose choreography helped initiate a newfound—and growing—emphasis of dance in musical production? 1) Bob Fosse 2) Michael Bennet 3) Agnes de Mille 4) Jerome Robbins

A Chorus Line started as an improvised session with performers and dancers led by 1) Jerome Robbins. 2) Bob Fosse. 3) Tommy Tune. 4) Michael Bennett.

The three major creators of a musical are the 1) producer, director, and choreographer. 2) composer, lyricist, and author. 3) lead actor, choreographer, and stage manager. 4) ensemble, audience, and critic.

Musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber are notable for their 1) highly detailed characterizations. 2) intelligent books. 3) lush music. 4) witty lyrics.

Which Sondheim musical is about a barber who kills his customers? 1) A Little Night Music 2) Passion 3) Sweeney Todd 4) Assassins

The general direction of today's musical theatre is toward 1) bigger and more spectacular shows. 2) using more comedic themes. 3) more serious subjects. 4) more spectacular dance numbers.

The Lion King, a musical designed and directed by Julia Taymor, blends ____________ performance styles. 1) understated, expansive, and frenetic 2) African, Asian, and American 3) vaudevillian, multimedia, and avant-garde 4) European, American, and Australian

Which of the following once-renowned playwrights has failed to gain a permanent place in the world theatre repertory? a) Maxwell Anderson b) John Fletcher c) Joseph Addison d) All of the these answers are correct.

The 1960s and 1970s can best be characterized as what kind of theatre? a) theatre directly based off of movies rather than trying to be "theatrical." b) safe and sanitized productions that refrained from offending the audience c) a return to the classics of the ancient era d) radical, unrestrained, and experimental activity.

A version of Hamlet that takes place in an actual castle, rather than in a traditional theatre, is an example of what kind of theatre? a) dangerous b) macaronic c) site-specific d) off-Broadway

Which global luminary, renowned for controversial productions, surprised everyone when she directed a children-friendly adaptation of The Cat in the Hat? a) Marina Abramovic b) Julie Taymor c) Yasmina Reza d) Katie Mitchell

Which was the important experimental theatre founded by director Joseph Chaikin in 1963? a) The Open Theatre b) The Anti-Theatre c) The Theatre Guild d) The Bread and Puppet Theatre

Which critically-acclaimed contemporary solo performer portrays monologues of social outcasts across races and genders in New York's working-class boroughs? a) Eric Bogosian b) Mary Zimmerman c) Danny Hoch d) Pina Bausch

Who is the founder of the nationally acclaimed El Teatro Campesino? a) Jose Rivera b) Lope de Vega c) Luis Valdez d) Nilo Cruz

David Henry Hwang first stunned American audiences with _____, his bold exploration of sexuality and politics. a) M. Butterly b) Turandot c) Rent d) La Boheme

Macaronic drama is characterized by a) a mix of multiple language. b) the lack of any set whatsoever. c) only utilizing non-actors as performers. d) an insistence on using an entirely made-up language

Tony Kushner's "gay fantasia on national themes," _____, was one of the most celebrated plays of the 1990s. a) Love! Valour! Compassion! b) La Cage aux Folles c) Angels in America d) All the Presidents Men

Plays that feature issues facing the gay community, differently abled companies, and sexual preference issues are all examples of a) theatre of indifference. b) theatre of compassion. c) theatre of community. d) theatre of difference.

Which of the following is a characteristic of performance art? a) avoidance of logical language and plot b) conceptual rather than straightforwardly dramatic c) provocative imagery d) All of the answers are correct.

Having an audience fee be free, reduced, or pay-what-you-can is often a component of a) performance art. b) theatre of the absurd. c) theatre of community. d) theatre of cruelty.

Which of the following describes one of the primary sources of shock that dangerous theatre provides? a) the use of current events. b) full nudity c) vulgar language d) all of the above.

Rhythm, sound, color, and athleticism are all attributes of a) music art. b) solo performance art. c) performance art. d) movement art.

Which of these figures is the contemporary choreographer who has made a huge impact on Broadway by emphasizing dance theatre? a) Laurie Anderson b) Susan Stroman c) David Mamet d) Yasmina Reza

Which performance artist staged an exhibit that featured staring across a table at members of the audience for hours on end? a) Danny Hoch b) Laurie Anderson c) Marina Abramovic d) Anna Deveare Smith

____ writes and performs solo performances inspired by specific cultural and political events. a) Katie Mitchell b) Karen Finley c) Tony Kushner d) Anna Deavere Smith

The Lion King is a spectacular success for its director/designer/choreographer, a) Anna Deavere Smith. b) Susan Stroman. c) Julie Taymor. d) Lily Tomlin.

Which playwright had a smash hit with a play that features a giant white painting? a) Katie Mitchell b) Sarah Kane c) Yasmina Reza d) Danny Hoch

New York theatres that operate on lower budgets than Broadway theatres are called a) Macaronic theatres. b) regional theatres. c) private playhouses. d) Off-Broadway theatres.

With the events of September 11, the global economic recession, and the numerous other crises facing the world, the twentieth century has seen an explosion of what kind of theatre that grapples with these issues? a) "theatre of luxury," whose plots are dictated by the desires of their major sponsors b) up-to-the-minute "verbatim" dramas. c) theatre that casts actual politicians as popular characters d) "economic dramas" that look at the minute details of corporate finance

Which type of theatre began during the Great Depression and is now featured in almost every state in the United States? a) Shakespeare festivals b) summer stock c) dinner theatre d) community theatre

At the time of this text's printing, the most exciting theatre in Europe—according to many observers—is taking place in a) Eastern Europe. b) Italy. c) Rural England. d) Immigrant neighborhoods in urban Spain.

Which global theatre artist directed a production of Goethe's Faust that featured live rock music, riotous dancing, fire-eating and fire-spewing, and serial stripping, gyrating, and copulating, all in the presence of a dozen grotesque hogs? a) Silviu Pucarete b) Peter Brook c) Julie Taymor d) Katie Mitchell