Question 1

One unique aspect of Maria Irene Fornés's play Fefu and Her Friends, described in the text, is that during one part of the play the audience is divided into four groups and taken to different locations to view scenes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Describe the ideal qualifications for (a) a daily newspaper reviewer; (b) a television reviewer; (c) a magazine critic; (d) the author of a lengthy theatre article for a scholarly journal.

Accepted Answer

(a) A daily newspaper reviewer should have a strong background in journalism or writing, with a keen understanding of the news industry and the ability to meet tight deadlines. They should also have a deep knowledge of the subject matter they are reviewing, whether it be literature, film, music, or art. Additionally, they should have strong critical thinking skills and the ability to write engaging and informative reviews that will appeal to a wide audience.

(b) A television reviewer should have a strong understanding of the television industry, with knowledge of current trends, popular shows, and the ability to analyze and critique different genres of television programming. They should also have a strong writing ability and the ability to convey their thoughts and opinions in an engaging and insightful manner.

(c) A magazine critic should have a deep understanding of the subject matter they are critiquing, whether it be fashion, food, travel, or entertainment. They should have a strong writing ability and the ability to craft in-depth and informative critiques that will resonate with the magazine's readership. Additionally, they should have a strong understanding of the magazine's editorial style and target audience.

(d) The author of a lengthy theatre article for a scholarly journal should have a strong background in theatre studies or a related field, with a deep understanding of theatre history, theory, and criticism. They should also have the ability to conduct thorough research and analysis, and the writing ability to produce a well-argued and insightful article that contributes to the scholarly discourse on theatre. Additionally, they should have the ability to engage with and respond to existing scholarship in the field.

Question 3

For many years, women were not allowed to perform on the stage. How might this fact have affected plays written during that time? How might it have affected the way women were portrayed? How might contemporary drama, film, and television change if women were not allowed to act, direct, write or produce? How might they change if men were not allowed to act, direct, write or produce?

Accepted Answer

The fact that women were not allowed to perform on stage for many years would have had a significant impact on the plays written during that time. Since women were not able to act in the plays, the roles for female characters would have been limited or non-existent. This would have affected the way women were portrayed in the plays, as their stories and perspectives may not have been accurately represented.

In contemporary drama, film, and television, if women were not allowed to act, direct, write, or produce, there would be a significant lack of diverse representation and storytelling. It would limit the range of stories and perspectives that could be told, and would perpetuate a male-dominated industry.

On the other hand, if men were not allowed to act, direct, write, or produce, it would also have a significant impact on the entertainment industry. It would create more opportunities for women to take on leadership roles and bring their perspectives and stories to the forefront. It would also challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes, leading to more diverse and inclusive storytelling.

Overall, the exclusion of either gender from the performing arts would have a profound impact on the types of stories that are told and the representation of different perspectives in the entertainment industry.

Question 4

To perform in repertory means to present a series of plays over a given span of time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

During the Elizabethan era, women were barred from performing on the legitimate stage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following might offer an opinion about whether or not the event is worth seeing?

Accepted Answer

A)   reviewer
B)   critic
C)   both reviewer and critic
D)   neither reviewer nor critic

Question 7

In their work for most regional professional theatres, the dramaturgs are responsible for examining new plays, researching plays the theatre is producing, and possibly working with playwrights on developing new scripts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

A critic might offer background information about the

Accepted Answer

A)   playwright.
B)   subject matter of the play.
C)   style of the production.
D)   All of these answers are correct.

Question 9

Analyze the culture of a particular society at a time when theatre thrived-Greece in the fifth century B. C.E., Europe in the middle ages, Elizabethan England, France in the seventeenth century-and discuss the basic assumptions of that society. Read and discuss a play which reflects the assumptions of the society.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Analyze the culture of a particular society...

Question 10

A critic usually has more ________ than a reviewer.

Accepted Answer

A)   time
B)   space
C)   knowledge
D)   All of these answers are correct.

Question 11

Theatre productions have a variety of purposes: to entertain, to offer escape, to provoke thought or political action, to educate, etc. Discuss your favorite television shows in terms of these purposes. Which purpose or purposes mentioned above do they have?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Theatre productions have a variety of purposes:...

Question 12

Which of the following is usually restricted by time, space, or both?

Accepted Answer

A)   reviewer
B)   critic
C)   both reviewer and critic
D)   neither reviewer nor critic

Question 13

Discuss Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, written in 1959, in the context of the kind of issues that were at the center of the civil rights marches of the 1960s. Discuss As Is by William Hoffmann or The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer (both produced in 1985) in the context of the treatment and understanding of gays at the height of the AIDS crisis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the...

Question 14

Which of the following will often try to explain how the theatre event fits into a category or genre, or into the body of the playwright's work?

Accepted Answer

A)   reviewer
B)   critic
C)   both reviewer and critic
D)   neither reviewer nor critic

Question 15

Looking at most newspaper, television or blog reviews, would you say there is much difference between these accounts of a theatre event and consumer reports on a given product? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Looking at most newspaper, television or blog...

Question 16

What is the relationship of awards such as the Tony Awards or the Academy Awards to reviews? Are they themselves reviews? Are they influenced by reviews? Are they influenced by box office revenue?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the relationship of awards such...

Question 17

The text notes that sometimes artists are accused of being antisocial, subversive, or enemies of the state or of common morality. Can you think of any contemporary artists that are sometimes described in these pejorative terms and why? What do people object to in their art? Do the stories we tell and the images we share affect the people who see them? In what way? Should our society be concerned about the stories and images that are being produced? To what extent should those images be controlled in the best interests of the society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The text notes that sometimes artists are...

Question 18

Women played an important role in the creation of Greek theatre during the classical period.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Because artists are often accused of being "antisocial,"
"subversive,"
or "enemies of the state,"
and are thus outsiders, the art that they produce is often unrelated to the society in which it is produced.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Discuss how important it is to be able to talk after the performance about a play or movie. Do people tend to go beyond "I liked it"
or "I didn't like it"
to discuss why they felt that way, or what the event was about?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how important it is to be...

Exam 2: The Background and Expectations of the Audience

One unique aspect of Maria Irene Fornés's play Fefu and Her Friends, described in the text, is that during one part of the play the audience is divided into four groups and taken to different locations to view scenes.

Describe the ideal qualifications for (a) a daily newspaper reviewer; (b) a television reviewer; (c) a magazine critic; (d) the author of a lengthy theatre article for a scholarly journal.

To perform in repertory means to present a series of plays over a given span of time.

During the Elizabethan era, women were barred from performing on the legitimate stage.

Which of the following might offer an opinion about whether or not the event is worth seeing?

In their work for most regional professional theatres, the dramaturgs are responsible for examining new plays, researching plays the theatre is producing, and possibly working with playwrights on developing new scripts.

A critic might offer background information about the

A critic usually has more ________ than a reviewer.

Theatre productions have a variety of purposes: to entertain, to offer escape, to provoke thought or political action, to educate, etc. Discuss your favorite television shows in terms of these purposes. Which purpose or purposes mentioned above do they have?

Which of the following is usually restricted by time, space, or both?

Which of the following will often try to explain how the theatre event fits into a category or genre, or into the body of the playwright's work?

Looking at most newspaper, television or blog reviews, would you say there is much difference between these accounts of a theatre event and consumer reports on a given product? Explain your answer.

What is the relationship of awards such as the Tony Awards or the Academy Awards to reviews? Are they themselves reviews? Are they influenced by reviews? Are they influenced by box office revenue?

Women played an important role in the creation of Greek theatre during the classical period.

Because artists are often accused of being "antisocial," "subversive," or "enemies of the state," and are thus outsiders, the art that they produce is often unrelated to the society in which it is produced.

Discuss how important it is to be able to talk after the performance about a play or movie. Do people tend to go beyond "I liked it" or "I didn't like it" to discuss why they felt that way, or what the event was about?