Theatre

Please upload your Play Critique.

The Format and Instructions in your textbook is simply a guide, and should be closely followed point by point. You are required to cover at least 4 of the production elements on pages 27 and 28. You may cover all the elements if you would like: Acting, Directing, Set Design/Scenic Elements, Lighting, Costumes. You may also cover other production elements, Singing, Dancing, Choreography, Sound, Props, Etc.

This should be on a Word Document, Left Justified, Double Spaced with a 12-point, Legible Font.

YOU MAY NOT WRITE A CRITIQUE ON ALL MY SONS, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, OR A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. YOU MUST CRITIQUE A PLAY FROM THIS CURRENT SEMESTER. YOU MAY NOT USE PLAYS SEEN PRIOR TO THIS SEMESTER. ONLY PROFESSIONAL, COLLEGE, OR COMMUNITY THEATRE PRODUCTIONS MAY BE USED.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO, YOU MAY WATCH AND CRITIQUE ONE MUSICAL FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT, OTHERWISE THE CRITIQUES SHOULD BE ON STRAIGHT PLAYS (NON MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS).

Word Count: ALL Play Critiques are to be 1,500 words. If you have a paper that is between 1,200 to 1,500 words, you will lose 10 points. If you have a paper that is between 800 and 1,200 words, you will lose 20 points. If you have a paper under 800 words, you will get a 0 on the paper. These points are deducted on top of the Rubric Score and are not included in the Rubric as you are expected to write 1,500 words.

Thoroughly read pages 25-28 before attending a play, and again before writing your critique

Title Page: Your text book asks for a postage stamp of information on the top of the first page – I REQUIRE that you include a title page that states your name, when and where you saw the play, and the word count of your document.

Please also include at the end of your paper: Your picture ID with program, ticket stub or photo of you at the theatre (if they do not provide ticket or program).

Play Attendance & Critique:

YOU MUST SEE LIVE THEATRE.

The play critique must be at least 1,500 words (For format and guidelines refer to pages 25-28)

In almost all cases, when attending a play, you will be given a ticket stub and a play program. You must scan them or take a photo of them and scan them into your critique. In the scan or photo you must include a photo ID. Your SCF ID is probably best. Critiques without a scan or photo of the ticket stub, program and ID (as a single scan or photo) inserted onto the end of the critique will be given the grade of zero. You may also hand me the actual ticket stub and program.

Some theatres, like the URBANITE in downtown Sarasota, do not give programs, nor have traditional tickets. At such a theatre, a selfie that clearly shows yourself inside the theatre will suffice in lieu of the program and ticket stub. That selfie needs to show you inside the theatre with something in the background that indicates you were there. Take this selfie before, at intermission, or after the show. DO NOT take it during the show. (Note, the Urbanite offers very inexpensive student tickets)

Please look at the uploaded file with this page to see example of how to put your picture ID and ticket stub into the body of your paper.

Critiques must be submitted electronically, to the assignment drop box in Canvas. Paper copies and/or emailed copies will not be accepted. No assignments in this class will be accepted via email.

Use NO source material!! This is your critique/analysis of the performance. If you are found using outside sources to write your analysis you will receive a 0 for the assignment. All written assignments in this class are checked using Turnitin, an anti-plagiarism web service. Papers suspected of being written with the help of AI will not be accepted.

In general, the breakdown of the paper should be:

Title Page

Introduction: Title of the play, the playwright’s name, where you saw the play, the date, curtain time and cost of the ticket.

Identify the goal of the play* : What do you think the play was trying to “do”?

Overall impression of the play: Did you enjoy the play? Was it well done? Would you recommend it?

(These above 3 items should collectively be between 15% and 20% of your critique)

Summary of Plot. (This should be no more than 30% of you critique): When and where the play takes place, the Protagonist and Antagonist, what are the main characters trying to accomplish, the central conflict and the climax of the play.

Spelling and Grammar

Production Elements – 4 required (Acting, Directing, Set Design, Lighting, Sound, and Costumes) Please give two examples of each, explaining if it was effective or not.

Conclusion (at least 50 Words): Was the play worth doing? Reinstate the goal and whether is was achieved and if you would recommend this play.

I am looking for YOUR opinion and analysis of the play. There are no right and wrong answers when it comes to your opinion and analysis. The only thing you can really do wrong is to not analyze the play (see Tips on the bottom of page 26).

The biggest mistakes that students make are:

1-write too much about the storyline and too little on production elements.

2-confuse the plot elements for the storyline

3-not write 1,500 words.

4-not have an opinion

*The goal of a play is what the audience is supposed to learn or take away from the performance. The goal of most plays is something deeper than The goal was to entertain the audience or The goal was to make you laugh. Although, for some comedies and some musicals, the goal might be able to be summed up so succinctly. Even in those cases, you could explain why you think the goal was that simple.

Also, we will learn about Goethe’s 3 questions about art: What is the artist trying to do? How well has he or she done it? Was it worth doing?

For Romeo and Juliet the goal might be: To make the audience think about the impact of 2 two familys hatred of one another on their children.

For Star Wars the goal might be: To show that good will conquer evil, and do it the edge of your seat, adventurous style.

For Black Panther the goal might be: To show the audience that fear of the unknown is not a reason to hide behind your borders, that open sharing of culture and advancement helps everyone.