Theatre Appreciation

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Theatre Appreciation

• Chapter 2
• Performance, Audience Critic

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The Audience

• The Audience completes the creative process
• Key concepts
• Perception
• Interpretation
• Intention

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Key Concepts

• Perception the audiences experience of the
  performance
• Interpretation how the audience derives meaning
  from the performance
• Intention what the artists (director,
  playwright, etc.) try to communicate to the
  audience through the performance

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Relationship Between Intention Interpretation
Intention Interpretation
Intention Interpretation
The audiences interpretation may or may not
match the artists intentions.
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Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance versus Film
Theatre and Film differ in numerous ways,
including how the audience experiences these two
types of performance.

Activity Take the following Quiz to test your
knowledge of the movie-going experience. Then,
well compare the experience of attending a film
to the experience of attending a theatrical
performance.
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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• Going to the movies is which type of occasion?
• Formal / Special
• Informal / Regular

• 2) When do you usually purchase movie tickets?
• Just before the movie starts
• Several days in advance

• How is seating determined in the movie theatre?
• A) Your ticket shows your seat number
• B) You can sit wherever you want

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• 4) When does the audience receive information
  about all of the artists who worked on the movie?
• Before the show, in a printed program
• While some of the artists are listed at the start
  of the movie, only after the show, when the final
  credits roll, are all the names listed

• 5) The scenery or environment of the film is
  viewable to the audience while waiting for the
  film to start.
• True
• False

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• 6) The scenery or environment of a film is
  typically abstract and unrealistic.
• True
• False

• 7) How many intermissions do most movies have?
• None
• One or more

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• 8) How would you describe the audiences focus
  during a movie?
• Determined by the filmmakers shots and editing
  the camera dictates what the audience sees
• Determined by the audience member, who can choose
  where to look

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• Going to the movies is which type of occasion?
• Formal / Special
• Informal / Regular

• 2) When do you usually purchase movie tickets?
• Just before the movie starts
• Several days in advance

• How is seating determined in the movie theatre?
• A) Your ticket shows your seat number
• B) You can sit wherever you want

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• 4) When does the audience receive information
  about all of the artists who worked on the movie?
• Before the show, in a printed program
• While some of the artists are listed at the start
  of the movie, only after the show, when the final
  credits roll, are all the names listed

• 5) The scenery or environment of the film is
  viewable to the audience while waiting for the
  film to start.
• True
• False

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• 6) The scenery or environment of a film is
  typically abstract and unrealistic.
• True
• False

• 7) How many intermissions do most movies have?
• None
• One or more

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz

• 8) How would you describe the audiences focus
  during a movie?
• Determined by the filmmakers shots and editing
  the camera dictates what the audience sees
• Determined by the audience member, who can choose
  where to look

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Watching a Performance
Movie Quiz Results
1) B 2) A 3) B 4) B
5) B 6) B 7) A 8) A
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Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance
Occasion Generally, Theatre is considered more of
a formal or special occasion than film. Tickets
Generally, reservations must be made well in
advance. Seating Seating is often reserved, with
your assigned seat number appearing on your
ticket.
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Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance
Credits Credits and other information about the
production are available on a printed program,
which is given to the audience as they enter the
theatre. Setting/Scenery Depending upon the type
of performance space and the particular
production, the setting or scenery is often fully
viewable before the start of the performance.
Additionally, scenery may or may not be
realistic, and the use of minimal scenery that
suggests location is a common convention of
theatrical performance.
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Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance
Intermissions Theatrical performances frequently
include one or more intermissions, during which
scenery or costumes may be changed. At
intermission, the audience is free to leave the
theatre space briefly. Focus Unlike film, where
the audiences focus is directed by the camera,
theatrical performance enables each audience
member to choose where to look and for how long.
Theatrical artists do employ techniques to guide
the audiences focus, but ultimately, each
audience member chooses what and how to watch.
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Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance versus Film
Film
Theatre
Quality
Regular / Informal
Special / Formal
Occasion

Purchase Just Before
Reserve in Advance
Tickets
Open Seating
Reserved / Specified
Seating
Credits Roll, After
In Program, Before
Credits
Hidden Prior
Often Viewable Prior
Setting
Usually Realistic
May not be Realistic
Scenery
No
Yes
Intermissions
Determined by Camera
Viewers choice
Audience Focus
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Who is the Audience?
Audiences vary significantly in several
ways Aesthetic Tastes Education Economic
Status Race Age Culture Community
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Influence of Audiences on Theatrical Production

• The choice of what is performed
• The style in which the production is performed
• The way in which the production is marketed
• The duration of the run how many performances
  are given

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What do YOU think?

• What are some reasons why Producers and Theatres
  should consider the intended Audience when
  selecting and offering Theatrical Performances?
• What might happen if such consideration is NOT
  given?
• Suppose a particular Theatres main audience is
  composed of White, well-to-do middle class
  patrons. What are some of the issues that might
  arise if this Theatre tries to attract new
  audiences, such as Hispanics or Gays and Lesbians?

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Influence of Audiences on Theatrical Production
Ongoing Questions for Theatres How many
audiences do we wish to attract/serve? How can we
meet the differing interests of these multiple
audiences?
Theatre cannot exist without audiences. Sensitivit
y to varying audience tastes and interests is
essential to achieving a diversified theatre.
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The Audience and Critical Perspective
Performance Judgment

• 3-Step Process for Evaluating the Theatrical
  Experience
• One experiences the performance
• One analyzes the performance
• One communicates a response to the performance

This process reveals information about our
personal tastes or aesthetics, by illuminating
our thoughts and feelings.
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The Critic
Criticism the act of making judgments
What is the role or function of the Critic?
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The Basic Problems of Criticism
The 3 Basic Concerns of the Critic 1. Understandi
ng What were the artists trying to
do? 2. Effectiveness How well did they do
it? 3. Ultimate Worth How valuable was the
experience?
How is the audience considered when writing a
review?
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Key Qualities of the Critic

• To be sensitive to feelings, images and ideas
• To become as well acquainted as possible with the
  theatre of all periods and of all types
• To be willing to explore plays and production
  processes
• To be tolerant of innovation
• To be aware of his/her own prejudices and values
• To be articulate and clear in expressing
  judgments and their bases
• To be courteous