Production Response 2

Find a filmed version of a play (filmed on the actual set of the play, not a film). I suggest WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME (on Amazon Prime) or HAMILTON (on Disney Plus). There are lots of other plays to watch as well. Go to youtube and search for full play productions.

Turn in your response as a .doc, docx, .pdf, or .rtf file on Canvas.

Play Production Review Description

Play Response for Introduction to Drama

You will discuss acting, technical elements and the play.
Respond to a professional, semi-professional, or college play you’ve seen this quarter (obviously, not a live production since we’re in the pandemic). If you choose to search on youtube, please don’t respond to a high school or lower level play. Here are more resources:
https://www.timeout.com/theatre/best-streaming-theatre-shows-how-to-watch-online
(Links to an external site.)
https://www.filmedonstage.com/news/76-free-musicals-and-plays-you-can-now-stream-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak-updating-daily
(Links to an external site.)
https://www.playbill.com/article/16-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home
(Links to an external site.)
Avoid plot summary. Stick to your points about the production.

The review will be built like a traditional essay (for the most part).

The introduction will usually include the following information (if you decide to do a different type of introduction, you’ll need to put this information somewhere else).

Play Title (put in italics, like a film title)
The company producing the play
Director
The date the play was filmed
Your thesis or claim about the production
e.g. Although the acting was smooth, the production’s technical difficulties were distracting.
e.g. All of the elements in this production came together to create a well-balanced, delightful experience.
e.g. Save your time and money. This production contains no redeeming value.

You will need to discuss the following things in the body of the paper. Be sure that your points in the body of the paper support your thesis (claim) about the production:

Acting:
Discuss at least two actors’ work. Make sure you give the name of the actor as well as the character he or she plays. See examples below.
Give examples from the play to show what you mean. (i.e. Bob Hart, who played the drunken porter, is a master of slapstick. When he tripped and fell off the bench onto the coconut pie, his extra grunt added laughter to the dark scene. i.e. Penny Davis, who played Juliet, brought focus and simplicity to the character. When Juliet was faced with the news that Romeo has killed Tybalt, Davis simply stopped moving. Her bleak, motionless posture for the rest of the scene was powerful.)
Technical Elements (address at least two of these elements):
Set: The set is what is on the stage. In some plays, the set never changes because the location never changes or because changes occur through light. You should ask yourself whether the set gives you enough information about where the play takes place, whether it creates a mood for the play, and whether the changes are too long or whether they flow quickly. Does the set creatively solve the problems of place in the play?
Lights: Do the lights evoke a mood that is consistent with the play? Can you see everyone, and if not, do you think that’s an effective choice? Do the lights distract you?
Sound: Does the sound consistently support the mood of the play? Are sound effects believable?
Costumes: Do the costumes seem to belong together, or does it look like each actor just brought something to wear? Do the costumes say something about the characters, or are they just clothes?

Lots of newspapers contain theater reviews. They don’t follow the format you’ll follow, so be careful!

Hints:

Be sure you make a claim about the production. Support your claim with evidence (acting and technical elements).
Double space your paper
Your paper will be around 3-4 pages long
Use Times New Roman 12 point font
Don’t justify the right margin (the right side of the page should not be straight)
Revise and proofread your paper! Spelling errors, poor sentence structure, and bad punctuation will affect your grade (negatively). Don’t turn in the first draft. Ask for help at the writing center.
Turn the paper in as a .doc, docx, .pdf, or .rtf file on Canvas