Constructive Criticism/Feedback

A reminder of how to successfully critique your peers' performances and rehearsals during the course of this class:

1. AFFIRMATION

Immediately following the presentation or production, the floor is open for positive feedback only.  Phrase everything in "I" statements ("I liked," "I saw," "I thought," etc.).  

2. QUESTIONS (from performer to audience)

A time for the performer to ask specific questions about what s/he did and illicit feedback.

3. QUESTIONS (from audience to performer)

Audience members have an opportunity to ask the performer questions about their performance.  These should be NEUTRAL questions (neither positive or negative!) and be specific.  Again, these are questions that are "I" based -- you can only ask questions for YOU.  No generalizations for the group.

4. OPINION

Audience members have the opportunity to offer opinions on how to improve or change the production.  However, in order to be fair, they must make a statement that shows what their opinion is about, THEN ask if the performer is willing to hear it.

Example:

"I have an opinion about how to make the plot clearer to the audience.  Would you like to hear it?"

The performer has the opportunity to say YES (I am willing to hear your idea and will not take offense to it), NO (I don't want to hear your opinion), or MAYBE LATER (I don't want to hear it at this time).

Theater II & III: Intro to Monologues

12/3/09

Theater II & III:

Using the open monologue you've chosen (A, B, or C), answer the following questions in as much detail as possible.  Use details in the monologue and your own creativity to support your choices.

1. Character Description

Using the monologue as a reference, write a character description of the character who is speaking.  This should include any and all details of a characters internal & external traits, their family background, educational background, occupation, general temperament, likes & dislikes, and any other descriptive details that you find necessary.

2. Describe the person (or people) this character is speaking to.  What is the relationship between the character who is speaking and their listeners?

3. What is the inciting incident?  (What has happened?  What event is the speaker talking about?)

4. What experiences of your own can you call on to EMPATHIZE with the character who is speaking?

Theater III ONLY:

5. Write a short monologue that is in CONTRAST to the monologue you have chosen.  For example, if you plan to perform the open monologue as COMEDIC, a contrasting monologue would be DRAMATIC (and vice versa).  This monologue might also serve as the listener's RESPONSE to the original monologue.  (What would the person who has listened to the original monologue say in response to what they've just heard?  Make sure that it CONTRASTS the original monologue!)

Theater I: Journal #12 and In-Class Reading/Work

Journal Entry #12 PLOT STRUCTURE (11/30/09):

Read pages 138 -140 and pages 144 – 145.  Make sure to know the diagram and parts of the plot structure on page 145.  (You may omit the element of “crisis” as it is really part of rising action!)

Read the sample scene on page 142 between RAY and MOLLY.  Using the sample script, and the Plot Structure diagram on page 145, continue plotting out the short scenario involving Molly and Ray.  This will look like a list of elements of plot structure followed by a description of a situation.  An example is below:

Exposition: Ray has committed robbery.  Although no one was hurt, the police are after him.

Inciting Incident: He goes to see his mother to get the keys to a getaway car.  She takes the keys and puts them in her pocket.

Rising Action:

Turning Point:

Falling Action:

Resolution:

Be imaginative in getting to the resolution.  The characters do not have to be heroic or good-hearted.

 

Journal entry #12, cont. VOCAB (12/2/09):

Write the definitions to the following words in YOUR OWN WORDS first.  If you don’t know, look at the word and its parts to guess what it might mean.

Then, find the definitions in the glossary or index of your textbook to write in the accurate definition.

(Hint: They’re both types of characters.)

protagonist                                    archetype

 

12/2/09:  In-class assignment: Write a short 2 person scene in which one person is the protagonist and another is an archetype.  (There are many types of both!)