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What are the five rules for Improv?
 Say yes- and!,
 After the ‘and’ add new information,
 Don’t Block,
 Avoid Questions,
 Establish Character and setting
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What plays were based mainly on stories from
the Bible? Mystery
What type of plays were based on the last week
in the life of Christ? Passion
Which plays focused on the principles of right
and wrong? Morality
Which pays dramatized the lives of the Saints?
Miracle
What were short dramatized scenes added to
the church services? Tropes
What were Medieval groups of trades and
craftsmen called? Guilds
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What was a multi-level cart that doubled as a
stage called? Pageant Wagon
What is a series of short plays based on
religious history called? Cycle
What is the main theme in a medieval morality
play? Salvation
What does allegory mean? A symbolic
narrative; the representation of abstract ideas
by characters
Who is the main character in medieval morality
plays? Everyman
Everyman is an example of what type of play?
Morality
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Why did the church revive theatre during the
medieval era? To be able to teach the people
about their faith.
Where did wealthy patrons sit in an
Elizabethan theatre? galleries
The area in front of the stage in an Elizabethan
theatre? Pit
People who paid a penny to stand and see a
play in an Elizabethan theater were called?
Groundlings
What was the name of Shakespeare’s theater?
The Globe
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How did people know a play was being
presented in Elizabethan England? A flag was
raised
Where and when was Shakespeare born?
Stratford upon Avon, April 23, 1564
How many plays did Shakespeare write? 37
Who were the two reigning monarchs during
Shakespeare’s time? Elizabeth I and King
James
What is the name of the theatre troupe William
Shakespeare joined when he first arrived in
London in 1594? The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
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What was the name of the roof over the stage
area? Heaven
Who acted in the plays? Men and Boys
What were the plays like? 2 hours, fast paced,
little to no scenery
When were Shakespeare’s plays published? Do
not need to answer
What type of plays did Shakespeare write?
Histories, Comedies, Tragedies
Describe what Shakespeare’s theatre looked
like? (In your own words)
Who was William Shakespeare and why is he
considered the greatest playwright of the
English language? (In your own words)
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Unity- A situation in which all elements of the
set form a perfect whole, centering on the idea
of the play.
Balance- The visual symmetry of the stage.
Emphasis- The focus of the audience’s attention
on some part of the stage.
Proportion- Stage setting that takes the human
being as the unit of measure.
Flat- A wooden frame covered with cloth or
plywood.
Purple- mournful, mystic, rich, regal
Red- aggression, passion, bloody, strength,
love
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Black- power, melancholy, tragic, gloomy, death,
mystery
Blue- calm, cold, formal, spiritual, truthful,
depression
Scenic Designer- The person who is responsible for
designing the physical appearance of the stage for
a production.
Blocking- movement of the actors on stage.
Unit Set- a basic stage setting from which several
setting can be created.
Permanent Set- a set that remains the same
throughout a play, regardless of change of locale.
Box Set- a two wall or three wall set representing
an interior of a room, often covered by a ceiling.
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Fourth wall- the imaginary wall through which
the audience watches the action of the play.
Theatre- a building used for the presentation of
plays.
Purpose of Scenery- define time, setting, and
provide the actors and area to act on.
Green- youthful, eternal, reborn, growth,
jealousy
Brown- earthy, common, poverty
Orange- exhilaration, cheerful, lively
Yellow- cheerful, happy, youthful, cowardly
White- truthful, pure, innocent, peaceful
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Backdrop- Large piece of fabric on which
scenery is painted.
Texture- The appearance/ feel of a surface
Atmosphere- the environment of the play
created by stage and lighting.
Stock Characters- a character with a
recognizable set of traits that remain the same
from play to play.
Renaissance- began in Italy, with a rediscovery
of the classics. Means rebirth.
Brighalla- The tough guy servant, a good liar,
always out for himself. Usually a shopkeeper.
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Proscenium Arch- the arch opening between
the stage and the auditorium.
Columbina- The wise-cracking maid, usually
the smartest character; flirtatious, playful,
servant to the leading lady and Arlecchino’s
girlfriend.
Zanni- The poorest, stupidest, and hungriest,
servant. Sleeps on the job, sneaks off to ear
food and daydream. Cannot do what he is told
very well at all.
Arlecchino- Nimble, acrobatic, tricky servant.
Childlike, not too bright.
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Innamorati- They were young, graceful, and
attractive. They wore fashionable clothes and
no masks. They were slightly vain and not too
bright– in love with themselves a bit too much–
but they were sincere.
II Captiano-a boasting, bragging macho soldier,
who tells tall tales of victory but is actually a
coward underneath.
II’ Dottore- the Doctor- a smug, “know it all”
professor, who really knows nothing.
Pantolone- “Mr, Big Pants” A waalthy, miserly
old man.
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Italy- The birth place of the Renaissance and
Commedia Del Arte.
Moliere- Most important playwright of the
French Renaissance.
Lazzi-Joke, comic “bits” gags. Each character
had his or her typical lazzi that they could
draw on in any situation.
Scenario- Outline that the Commedia actors
used for their skits. Actors improvised
dialogue and action tailoring to the day’s
audience.