CRITICAL REVIEW CLASS NOTES

Critical review covers three things:

1.    Performance analysis

2.    Script analysis

3.    Study of theories

There is no original concept, the idea can be original. But that idea is also derived from something already known. Newton didn’t get gravity until the apple fell from the tree. It could be that basic and the idea could be huge, but the apple gave Newton the idea. That also was derived.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS:

1.    Script, who and when wrote it. The socio economic and political state. And what was the audience then.

2.    Audience reaction and effects.

3.    Purpose of playwright writing play vs director’s interpretation.

4.    Theories used in performance.

5.    Dramatic aspect – method, movement, gestures.

6.    Directions given – dialogue delivery, entry and exit (even midway between dialogues).

7.    Timings – dialogues, movements, speed.

8.    Blocking patterns.

9.    Interaction between characters.

10. Use of props and costume, why and what.

11. Ironic element.

12. Structure of the play (sequence of events)

13. Key plot device (basic motive)

14. Dramatic trope – use of figurative language, clichés, proverbs.

15. Effect on audience – Creating intrigue, tension, and suspense.

The above points mentioned cover the whole spectrum of performance analysis. Your review might not even have half of them and that’s okay, but what you do analyze should be explained well.

Misc-en-scene: the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in the play. The setting or surroundings of an event.

Misc-en-abyme: a play within a play or a film within a film.

Performance types:

1.    Classical

2.    Modern – after Industrial Revolution

3.    Contemporary

THEATRICALITY:

·         No particular definition or summary.

·         Postel Wait and Tracey are working on this concept.

·         Cultural and social importance of the play is talked about here.

·         The author’s self conscious perception.

·         Audience viewpoint for the play.

·         Naturalizes the illusion of non-meditated representation.

·         Capacity to absorb art forms.

·         Mode of representation or style of behavior characterized by histrionic movements, actions, manners, and devices.

·         Aesthetic and philosophical value of the play.

·         Underlying meaning or hidden meaning of play interpretation.

Dramatic metaphor: Tool or technique used by author/director to have form of double talk, what is shown both hides and reveals hidden.

ABSURD THEORY:

     I.        After world war II people started to doubt everything in their life and hence this emerged in theatre art.

   II.        Removal of hope and positive future, absurd plays end in death.

  III.        No narrative or basic story.

 IV.        Props and sets are absurd too, exaggerated.

   V.        Time and space are not coherent.

 VI.        Characters lose their identity through the course of the play.

VII.        You cant really define each role.

VIII.        You cant even judge characters.

 IX.        You cant narrate the play because it doesn’t make sense.

   X.        Gestures, movements and attitude is important.

 XI.        Set should be miraculous, impeccable. And meticulously made.

XII.        Need to create a spectacle.

XIII.        Miming gestures, clown acting, visual elements are rich, with a nice play of sound and lights.

XIV.        Feeling of suffering, solitude, catastrophe. But this tragic element will be hidden and has to be found.

EVALUATING THEATRE:

1)    Performance –

a.    Conclusion

b.    Narrative

c.    Plot

d.    Genre

e.    Style

2)    Catharsis –

a.    Symbolic element

b.    Abstract

c.    Naturalistic

INTERTEXTUALITY:

Ø  all performances are analyzed intertextually

Ø  deja-vu feeling

Ø  a performance is always linked to some other

Ø  there is always a background

Ø  audience view with their own subjectivity and experience

Ø  event should be documented for it to be intertextual

IMPROVISATION:

v  even before the written plays, there was just a plot or story known and it was acted

v  then came in Commedia del arte in 1500s throughout Europe. There were make shift stages, masks and  through pictures

v  the story or the plot was taken from the stone drawings, or parchments etc.

v  20^th century USA it was reinvented because the theatre wasn’t available to everyone in the society and it needed a broader audience so:

o   Keith Jenner : he felt that the audience needs to be widened and in USA everybody follows sports a lot so he did his plays on football fields etc. He incorporated it into sports.

o   Viola Spolin : she incorporated theatre into children’s minds. She worked a lot for children’s theatre. She felt there was a need of new generation which would think of theatre as an integral form of art.

GREEK TRAGEDY:

     i.        Depicts downfall of a noble person, hero or heroine. Noble means good person.

   ii.        Tragic hero has to achieve some goal and encounters limits due to human weakness, weakness in society or due to gods/ fate/ oracles or even nature.

  iii.        Tragedy evokes pity in a person.

  iv.        Aristotle said – tragic hero should’ve a flaw. He should make a mistake. He need no die in end but must undergo change in fortune; may achieve some revelation/ recognition/ meaning that he learns a lesson, learns something about human fate/ destiny/ will of Gods. A chance from ignorance to awareness of a bond of love or hate.

    v.        Tragedy is superior to comedy. Comedy men are lower type of persons.

  vi.        6 key elements in tragedy:

a.    Plot – should be universal – beginning, middle and end. Astonishment, identification, ironic twist for audience, gaining knowledge, suffering. All should be there.

b.    Character – as explained above. Stereotypical, manly valor, very good, chivalry

c.    Diction/ language – should be of high class

d.    Thought – realization / revelation

e.    Spectacle – beautiful looking, WOW factor

f.     Song

 vii.        Key plot device should be constant throughout.

POETICS by ARISTOTLE:

Aristotle believed that a good poem is a medium of imitation and represent or duplicate life through character/ emotion/ action.

A.   Epic poetry – written in open verses on noble people.

B.   Tragedy

C.   Comedy

D.   Dithrambic – verses or hymns. Based on God Diorrysis. Poet is the only speaker.

E.   Music