Art (Fine arts, Performing arts)

Posted: December 10th, 2013

1.Greek Tragedy: Oedipus Rex
2.TRIFLES by Susan Glaspell

1. List the theater, the producing organization, director, playwright, date of performance and the physical space or theater venue.
2. The play’s genre must be identified (comedy, farce, romantic comedy, tragedy, drama, etc.). Explain what you expect of a production in that genre. Evaluate how successful these expectations were fulfilled.
3. Identify the theatrical conventions used in the production. (These conventions will be outlined in class and in your text.)
For example, the style of the production you see. Ask yourself what theatrical conventions are used through the set, the acting, the script, the lights and/or sound design.
Is the production a pure form of realism? Does it combine styles? Other theatrical styles to consider are: social realism, expressionism, Theater of the Absurd, Shakespearean Drama, Greek Drama, musicals, docudrama. Please explain if it depart from conventions of that style in any way? Make sure you give examples of how the lights, sound, set, acting, narrative structure, costumes and/or dialogue fulfill the play’s conventions.
4. What point or objective do you think the artists wanted to make by creating this production? Make sure you distinguish between their intent and your response to that intent, and then evaluate if they accomplished what they intended. In this section, explain how you felt the director of the production succeeded and/or how the director did not fully realize the possibility of the play.
5. Describe one or two of the actors’ performances in the production. You may choose a performance you found to be compelling and successful, or you may want to analyze a performance that detracted from your belief in the production or enjoyment of the play. Give several examples of moments in the production when this actor was particularly memorable and describe what happened that made this moment memorable.
6. Finally, please discuss the audience’s response to the production. Compare that to your own response. Did you find the play compelling? Give specific examples of places or moments you “forgot” you were watching a play. If there are no such moments, suggest what the artists might have done differently to make the production more successful.