Review for Exam I—Arts Survey Theatre Section Know the following terms: Proscenium arch (Counterweight) Fly System Upstage, Downstage, Stage Right, Stage left House Border Leg Main Drape Cyc (Cyclorama) Scrim Apron Black Box Theatre Batten The Wings Thrust Theatre Arena (Theatre in the Round) Orchestra Pit Actors Equity Association Dionysus Oedipus Rex (what is it about? Good short answer question!) Dithyramb Peripeteia Magnitude Hubris Thespis Satyr Play Chiton Orchestra Deus Ex Machina Skene City Dionysia Greek Chorus Ludi Romani Fabula Atellana Pantomime Mime Stychomythia Scaena Frons Proskene (proscenium) Be familiar with the following concepts: INTRO What are the three main elements that must be present for “theatre” to occur? Why does theatre survive? (good essay) Be able to describe these concepts that make up a theatre STYLE: Level of abstraction (realistic vs. nonrealistic theatre techniques—see handout) Amount of Detail Social Class Given Circumstances Historical Period What are the parts of a linear/causal plot? (Be able to label the triangular diagram.) How does a linear plot differ from an episodic plot? Understand Aristotle’s six parts of a play: Plot Character Thought (or Idea) Diction (or Language) Song (or Music) Spectacle Know the different types of theatre spaces you may see today: Proscenium Thrust Arena (Theatre in the round) Know a few of the different types of professional and nonprofessional theatres in the U.S. What are some “rules” for theatre audiences? (Good essay question) GREEK THEATRE What is the theory of the evolution of Greek Theatre? (hint—evolved from dithyramb) Who are the writers of Greek Tragedy? (Aeschylus, Euripides, & Sophocles) Who are the writers of Greek Comedy? (Aristophanes-old comedy & Menander-new comedy) Characteristics of Greek Tragedy: 1. Generally the hero or heroine is an extraordinary person—a king, queen, or nobleman—in stature. 2. Central figures become caught in a series of tragic circumstances. 3. The situation becomes irretrievable—can’t turn back—FATE 4. Hero accepts responsibility for his actions and shows willingness to suffer and capacity for suffering 5. Language—VERSE. Expected because tragedy deals with profound ideas and extraordinary people. 6. Late point of attack 7. Violence and death usually offstage 8. Frequent use of messengers to relate information 9. Usually in a single place and continuous time of action 10. Stories based on myth or history 11. Focus is on psychological and ethical attributes of characters, rather than physical and sociological. 12. All men 13. Three speaking actors for each author 14. Stylized acting—used masks, choral declamation, large gestures 15. Competitive—prizes were awarded and actors and playwrights competed 16. Closely associated with religion What are some of the functions of a Greek Chorus? What did Greek stage spaces look like? Can you name the parts? Parados Thymele (altar) Orchestra Skene Deus ex machina Ekkyklema ROMAN THEATRE What is the Ludi Romani? What types of entertainment were available to the audiences there? Conventions of Roman Comedy: 1. All men (women in the mimes only) 2. Everyday domestic affairs 3. Plots turn on misunderstandings (much like sitcoms today) 4. Set and clothed as Greeks 5. Character “types” associated with certain colors (i.e., red=slaves, yellow=courtesans; also in wigs) 6. Use of masks 7. Used songs and music 8. No act or scene divisions 9. Action placed in the street Famous Roman Playwrights: PLAUTUS-comedy TERENCE-comedy SENECA-tragedy Note: Roman comedy was more popular than Roman tragedy, Roman tragedy was similar to Greek tragedy, but with exaggerated emotions on onstage violence. It also used more characters, emphasized elaborate speeches, and had a five act division. Other Forms of Roman theatre: Pantomime Mime What did Roman Theatres look like? What are the parts— Scaena Vomitorium Orchestra Scaena frons Note: stage was raised to 5 feet—stages were large 20-40 feet deep, 100-300 feet long—the seats could accommodate up to 15,000 people. Some had awnings over the audience to protect them from the sun. Some also had a cooling system with air blowing over streams of water. Why was the Christian church opposed to the theatre? (Good essay question)