Critical Theatre Response

 

 

Step 1

 

View the play and enjoy the experience. No need to take notes during show.

 

Step 2

 

Sit down and ask yourself what was good/effective/successful about the production. Be sure to consider the elements of production:

Acting

Directing

Scene Design

Costume Design

Sound Design

Lighting Design

Script

 

Make a list of good/effective/successful production elements and place the best aspect at the top of the list and work down in an ordered manner.

 

Then, ask yourself what you did not consider good/effective/successful about the production. Again make a list of production elements you thought were unsuccessful, and make a list with the worst aspect of the production at the top of the list and work down to the least worst aspect.

 

Step 3

 

Weigh the balance of the lists together; goods vs. bads. Take the list that has the most elements on it and put the other to the side. This is what you will write about. If the good list has the most aspects on it, then you will write a response about the quality of the production and cite the elements on the “Good” list as your evidence for the production’s quality. Do likewise if the “Bad” list is the most extensive.  The key here is to totally disregard the list of elements that you do not use. DO NOT write about any of the topics on that discarded list. Doing so will give the paper a split focus and it will not reveal one concise response!

 

Step 4

 

Write a critical response in which you define the production as overall good or overall bad. Use the elements on the predominant list as the main points of the paper that will back up your overall response.

 

Follow proper organizational procedure. Intro, Body, Conclusion!

 

Introduction should include who, what, when, where info. EX: “St. Gregory’s University theatre presented Much Ado About Nothing, February 19^th in the Sarkeys Performing Arts Center.”

 

Also include a sentence that identifies the type of play: ex/ “This modern romance by. . .” or whatever the play happens to be.

 

Be sure to include a thesis sentence that states what your overall response to the production worked out to be based on the lists you created and set up what you main points of evidence will be: list items.

 

The Body

In dealing with each production element as a main point for the paper, be sure to provide very specific examples that clearly illustrate how that element is good or bad.

 

For example, when discussing acting do not just say that a particular actor was good or bad, but explain what the actor did to make you think that. EX: “The actor was good because she used her face effectively to show what the character was going through emotionally. For example, in the scene where the cat ran away the actor looked out into the audience and looked as if she was going to burst into to tears at any minute. The actress used her face and her mental concentration to make the audience believe that she was really upset.”

 

Cite specific scenes that demonstrate your point. You must be able to provide clear and specific evidence to support all of your ideas!!

 

Grading Rubric

 

Structure/organization . . . . 30 pts.

Evidence/Examples . . . . . . 35 pts.

Mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 pts.

Assigned Format. . . . . . . .  15 pts.

                                           100 pts.

 

Proficiency in grammar, writing mechanics, and spelling is assumed and absolutely expected of any college student and positively required in this class. This is not a writing class, but one of its objectives is to lead the student in developing communication skills in the spoken and written word, so precision and care is expected on all writing assignments done for the class, including essays on exams. In short, PROOFREAD EVERYTHING CAREFULLY!!!! Care about the presentation of your scholarly work.