Introduction to Theatre Online Course |
This page last modified: November 16, 2007
Special Qualities of Theatre
Objectives for this lesson:Students will examine:
distinct characteristics of theatre
essential elements for theatre to exist
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Theatre is lifelike and familiar -- it is an imitation of humans in action.
Theatre is also exotic -- characters are different from us.
Verisimilitude -- lifelikeness
"Eros" -- Bentley says the fact that humans are before us on stage is inherently "erotic."
Ephemeral -- not recoverable -- one performance cannot ever be like the rest.
Objective: the audience gets only what the characters do or say -- does not have vantage point of prose fiction, where the author can comment on action / characters.
Complex: -- uses complex means -- all art forms -- to convey.
Theatre is Immediate: happens to us now and never again the same way.
The "home of the now."
Robert E. Jones : "aware of the now" but the experience will last.
Essential Qualities of Theatre
1. Audience:
We bring our own experiences with us and help dictate the kinds of theatre done.
We participate -- our presence affects the event.
2. Performers: have different training, experiences, talents, perceptions, and imaginations.
3. What is performed: usually a script (play) -- but not always written down --
Improvisation -- "action" embodied by performers and seen by audience.
Bentley's simplified definition of a theatrical event: A does to B with C watching.
Structure of plays and acting styles will influence.
4. Performance:
All elements together -- performers, sets, costumes, lights, makeup, sound, audience, what is performed, environment.
5. Environment:
Physical environment: Click for Stage Spaces Presentation.
Social -- can affect attitudes
can make a nonpolitical play or non-socially-significant play political or significant.
Important terms:
verisimilitude
ephemeral
eros
theatrical action
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This page last modified: November 16, 2007