Worksheet for Theatre-Going & Preparation for Critique

Remember: Do not try to write an essay or even any fully developed statements while you are watching the performance; that would defeat the whole purpose of theatre-going. Use hard copy and hand write notes.

Notes Before the Performance -

Impressions of the Theatre

a. Jot down three adjectives that describe the atmosphere of the theatre.

b. What kind of theatre is it: proscenium, thrust, arena, found space?

c. Is the audience - house full or the seating sparse?

d. Can you see the playing space before the performance begins?

e. If you can see the playing space, what are your impressions about the scenery? What does it seem to suggest about the production? (Just jot down a few adjectives that reflect your first impressions.)

Read the Program

(usually has Director's, Design Team, Cast, Crew Names - brief bios, Director's Notes, mini-exposition, highlights)

a. Jot down when and where the play is set, and any other information you have gleaned from the program.

b. Read any notes in the program and underline three sentences, which you believe will help you better, understand the production.

c. Underline any historical information in the program about the play or playwright.

Notes During Intermission

1. What did you learn in the first few opening scenes - about the exposition and overall theme and/or conflict?

2. Who are the central characters (protagonist/antagonist)? With whom does this character conflict? Write down their names.

3. For each of the characters you have just named, jot down three adjectives that describe his or her personality and physical attributes.

4. For each of the characters you have named, write down three adjectives to describe how you feel about the performance of the actor playing him or her.

5. Briefly describe a specific moment or scene that you thought was particularly dramatic, effective, or significant.

6. Jot down three adjectives that reflect your impressions about each of the following.
Scenery:
Costumes:
Lighting:

7. Write one word or one short phrase which best describes the world of the play (for instance, absurd, unceasingly violent, repressed, uncontrollably cruel, sentimentally romantic, constantly hilarious.)

8. Have any audience members been asked to participate in some way? If so, describe how; also, describe your own reaction.

9. Is the applause weak & lifeless or strong & thunderous? Is the laughter dutiful or helpless? Is the audience rapt with interest or merely listening politely? Is the audience enjoying the play as much as you are or feeling the same about it?

Notes After the Performance

1. List your initial responses to each of the production elements. Indicate whether you like or dislike each element, and provide an adjective, which expresses why you like or dislike it. (Remember that it is these initial responses you will have to defend your paper.)

2. Review your intermission notes. After the intermission (or after each intermission, if there was more than one), have you changed your opinion about any of the production elements? If so, jot down what changed.

3. Write down what the high point of the action/CLIMAX seems to have been and what resolution of the conflict, if any, has occurred.

4. Have any characters changed between the beginning and the conclusion of the action? If so, provide an adjective or a short phrase to describe the character at the outset of the action and another adjective or phrase to describe him or her after the change.

5. Does anything about the play or the production puzzle or confuse you? If so, jot it down.

6. Did the acting seem believable? What contributed to this? Did the characters seem like real people? Did you feel for their predicament? How so? Empathize with their feelings? Why? Care what happened to them?Jot down a few specifics.

7. On this basis of this experience, would you go to the theatre again? Yes or no?

8. Did the Director accomplish their vision? Was the play cohesive? Which elements played the most important role in helping you understand and/or enjoy or feel disappointed in the experience?