Chapter 2

Theatre as a metaphor for daily life Melodramatic Highly theatrical Prima donna Play-acting

Theatre is an activity that we use to describe how we live

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TV shows reflect comic traditions, techniques, characters, and structures developed in theatre Daytime soap operas Nighttime situation comedies Hospital and police shows Variety shows News documentaries

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Genres – categories of art work based on style, form or subject matter

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Theatrical genres and specific plays have been appropriated by film Dreamgirls Hairspray Mamma Mia!

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Most film genres borrow from past theatrical traditions Harry Potter Batman

Early theatrical audiences were often obsessed with theatrical stars

Many film stars began their careers in theatre

Movie and TV stars perform onstage6© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Rock stars often use theatrical comparisons to defend their work Lady Gaga

Rock stars create theatrical characters by using: Costumes Props Makeup

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Rock stars often act in films and in theatre Elvis Presley The Beatles Madonna Mark Wahlberg Ice T Tupac Shakur Eminem

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Concerts are highly theatrical events Music videos are theatrical

Narratives of videos are visual and dramaticScissor Sisters vs Krystal Pepsy – Shady Love

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Rock is used as the score for musicals Mamma Mia! Lennon All Shook Up Good Vibrations Jersey Boys Jukebox Journey

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Amusement parks present staged productions based on films

Rides incorporate theatricality ET Raiders of the Lost Ark Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror

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Restaurants with theatricalized environments Rainforest Café

Shopping centers and specialty stores with theatricalized environments Niketown American Girl

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13Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas recreated Venice complete with shops© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Museums with stage presentations and exhibits that function like stage settings

Dinner theatres Sports events function like theatre spaces

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15Black Eyed Peas performing at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Many of the storylines in digital entertainment present a theatrical plotline

Theatrical role-playing websites

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Theater (in its purity) – Presentation by live actors of a dramatic work in the presence of an audience

Differences between Theatre-Related Activities and Theatre Itself

Recorded performances lack performer-audience interaction

Musical performances, half-time shows, etc. are live performances but make no pretense of dramatic production

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How the Audience Participates

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Audience always key component in any theater experience. In some cases, audience takes an active role. Shown here is audience at Drumstruck, billed as first interactive drum theater experience at Dodger Stages in NY. Enock Mahlangu plays conductor for the audience. © 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Audience is key in theater They are a group of people observing,

responding to and deeply involved in what is unfolding▪ We also participate with our imagination▪ “willing suspension of disbelief”– put aside literal

and practical considerations to go on this journey▪ “aesthetic distance” – physical or psychological

separation or detachment from dramatic action, usually considered necessary for artistic illusion

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Power of Audience Positive – Political groups use it to educate

and to create change – feminist theater, GLBT theater, radical political theater, etc.

Negative – Censorship

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Diversity of Audiences Makeup of Audiences: Past and Present Where We See Theatre

▪ Broadway Theaters – large format theaters▪ Resident Professional Theaters – mid-size▪ Under 250 seats – lofts, churches, warehouses,

smaller theaters, etc.▪ College Campuses▪ Children’s Theater

Audiences Today: Multicultural and Diverse© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21

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The restored Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Critic – someone who observes theater and then analyzes and comments on it

Preparing for Criticism Criticism – “to find fault” but also “to

understand and appraise”

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Criteria for Criticism What is the playwright or production

attempting to do?▪ “auteur director” – a director who believes that his or

her role is to be the author of the production as opposed to a director who present the play exactly as a playwright intended

How well has it been done? Is it worth doing?

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Peter Brook’s production of Marat/Sade© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Critics take two approachesDescriptive – describe as clearly and accurately as possible what is happening in the performance Prescriptive – describes what has been done and offers advice and sometimes suggests rules on what should be doneThese approaches established by ancient critics:

Aristotle (Descriptive) Horace (Prescriptive)

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Decline of Critics’ and Reviewers’ Influence

The Audience Member’s Independent Judgment

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