After seeing a live performance, create a basic analysis of a theatre production by using the following outline of concepts from the text as a guide.
Genre. In what genre was the play? How did it exhibit the characteristics of tragedy, comedy, melodrama, etc.?
Plot. How did the plot work? Where in the play would you say the exposition ended? Where was the climax? Where were the crises? What instances of foreshadowing, discovery, and reversal were present? Was the plot a significant part of the play or not? Why?
Protagonist. Who was the protagonist? How did his or her actions and decisions move the plot? Was the protagonist active or passive?
Character. How did the playwright draw the characters? Were they three-dimensional? Did you find any of them identifiable with your own life and feelings?
Themes. What ideas did the play pursue? In what ways did the playwright or the production make you aware of the point of view being presented?
Theatre form. In what theatre form was the play produced? What effect on your response to the play did the form create? Would you have had a different response if the production had utilized a different physical arrangement -- for example, thrust, arena, or proscenium?
Visual elements. In what ways did the settings, costumes, and lighting reinforce the message and style of the play? How did the visual elements provide historical or structural information to the audience?
Language. How did the playwright's language and the actor's speech create meaning for you?
Reaction. How did the previous elements combine to create a reaction in you? In other words, what drew your attention? What was your emotional response to the production, and what caused that reaction?
Genre. In what genre was the play? How did it exhibit the characteristics of tragedy, comedy, melodrama, etc.?
Plot. How did the plot work? Where in the play would you say the exposition ended? Where was the climax? Where were the crises? What instances of foreshadowing, discovery, and reversal were present? Was the plot a significant part of the play or not? Why?
Protagonist. Who was the protagonist? How did his or her actions and decisions move the plot? Was the protagonist active or passive?
Character. How did the playwright draw the characters? Were they three-dimensional? Did you find any of them identifiable with your own life and feelings?
Themes. What ideas did the play pursue? In what ways did the playwright or the production make you aware of the point of view being presented?
Theatre form. In what theatre form was the play produced? What effect on your response to the play did the form create? Would you have had a different response if the production had utilized a different physical arrangement -- for example, thrust, arena, or proscenium?
Visual elements. In what ways did the settings, costumes, and lighting reinforce the message and style of the play? How did the visual elements provide historical or structural information to the audience?
Language. How did the playwright's language and the actor's speech create meaning for you?
Reaction. How did the previous elements combine to create a reaction in you? In other words, what drew your attention? What was your emotional response to the production, and what caused that reaction?