Theatre 110-Intro to Theatre 1/30/12Why does our generation prefer film to theatre?Cost ($10 vs. $140)Accessibility (location of theatres, planning)Movies are a better-known product (quality)CelebrityAdvertisingVisuals (visual vs. oral)Special EffectsProblem: “The Graying of the American Audience”Why do we study theatre?Universality of TheatreTheatrical ImpulseAristotle The Poetics (335 BC)Innate mimetic desire in humans (“mimesis”=imitation)Definition of Theatre:Must have an- A) actor B) story C) audience D) “liveness”Communication Interaction Model: message Sender Receiver feedback 3 Way Theatrical InteractionPerformers AudienceAudience PerformersAudience AudienceTheatre requires actionTheatre uses actors (an actor is a person who impersonates)Theatre is a hybrid form (incorporates many skills)Theatre is a collaborative artTheatre relies on “liveness”Theatre is ephemeral (fleeting/short-lived)How do audiences negotiate the theatre event?Theatrical ConventionsRules, practices, or shorthand that an audience agrees to accept. (ex: men playing female roles)Wiling Suspension of DisbeliefAlthough audiences know the events of a play are not real. they agree for the moment not to disbelieve them.Aesthetic DistanceAudiences remember that events on stage are not real so they do not intervene.Before the show:Appropriate attireBusiness casualoften a range in clothing depending on theatreArrive earlyBe able to find/get situated in seats (avoid ass-crotch dilemma)Read the programDon’t smellPerfumeSmokingDuring the show:Site linesBe sensitive to how you’re sittingAvoid noiseTheatres are designed to be amplifiedex: food, candy wrappers, talking, toe-tapping, etc.PhonesNo talking, texting, looking at phone to see time (light)After the show:No early departuresNo walking out in middle of act/curtain callStanding ovationsStand at your own discretion“The Three Block Rule”wait until you’re a distance away from the theatre before you start talking about what you’ve seen.Patti Lupone goes ape-shit on a rude audience:Gypsy: she’s doing the huge finale number and someone in the audience starts taking pictures. Flipped out on them and forced them out. “This is the theatre! Who do you think you are?!”How to think critically about a performance:The theatre production is the sum of a set of choices!Playwrighthas a story they want to tell: chooses name, set, etc.Artistic DirectorCEO/in charge of the theatre. Big boss! Chooses theatrical season.Choose plays they can relate to, seasonal, fun, valuable, makes a statement, etc. Balance budgets by choosing popular shows followed by lesser-known shows.DirectorCaptain of the ship/makes choices about the production that guides actors, etc.“Director’s Concept”Overall image of metaphor for the playwhat do you want this play to say/what’s the important parts?DesignersMay always put Linda in the light/colors that differ. They choose and create the world of the play.ActorsMake choices! Show something the text may not necessarily tell them. Ex: How you hold your face, how angry is Willy at Biff, etc.“Inside His Head” was the original name of Death of a SalesmanArthur Miller:“[Art] can do more to sustain the peace than all the wars, the armaments, and the threats and warnings of the politicians”.THEME:American dream can be a lie/Willy never achieves it“make” people look successful even if they aren’t.working class!Finding out who you areBiff is the only one who figures out what he wants to do in life/who he is.Says Willy should’ve worked with his hands. He dies never knowing who he is. Happy says he will follow in Dad’s footsteps/win the game.Stress on the family/difficulty in family dynamicsSociety marginalizing womenLinda keeps family together“Pay attention”Jo Mielziner’s Set for Death of a Salesman:Fragmented house. Willy is being crushed by the trees.Romeo and Juliet: old vs. newOld is representing a love story, while the new is emphasizing more of the conflict/gangs.Writing a Response Paper3 primary questions:1) what was attempted?2) was it accomplished?3) was it valuable?What to include in your paper:Paragraph 1: Title (give sense of how felt about play), grabber, brief summary, themes/goals (make direction of review clear)Body- address prompt, how well production achieves goalsSupport with specifics – make argument interestingLook at details, THEN conclusion!AVOID:1. muddy organization2. play titles in italics!!3. DO NOT write in passive voicewrite in 1st person: “I thought”don’t confuse actor and character, refer to them as their characters name.4. Use names! Don’t say “The actor”…5. For title- don’t say: Review of old Settler! Make it creative!*** MIDTERM ***Death of a Salesman1. Differences between productions:Dull colors- grey/brown Biff dramatically cried at endBrighterWilly seems crazier/older2. How do they feel different?Intense, rushed Wily seemed intoxicatedBiff started off pissed! Didn’t make eye contactBiff progressively got angrier3. Which production was more effective? Why?1st one! More realistic acting!Biff is sitting down when talk about pen so really makes a point so his dad understands.History of Directingrelatively recent jobRichard Wagner (1813-1883)known in music, especially operaUnified Production/gesam kunstwerkWanted audience fully engaged in what was happeningFully suspend disbelief/enter world of production on stageMaster artistDirector’s Concept or Thematic Thrust(overall image or metaphor for the play)Director’s main jobs are: Interpretation, Unification, and CommunicationInterpretation: what do I want that play to say?Unification: Make sure everything in production supports vision.Communication: make sure everyone knows what vision is.SCOT REESE INTERVIEW:What made you work as an actor/director? How did you train for jobs?Did shows in college, kept music major. Did backup singing to pay rent. Did soaps/sitcoms for 6 yearsMoved to NY, ended up in Boston doing CBS talk show. Won daytime Emmy award.Went back to Northwestern to get MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in directingLike a PHD. Get a specialized MFA (ex: acting, directing, etc.)Moved to DC to start teaching and never looked back- Loves surfingWhat’s the job as director?Get the script, then have to interpret the script. Director has to have a point of view: makes all productions different.Collaboration/Unification: works with designers/actors to unify
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