Ch1. The Nature of TheatreCh1. The Nature of Theatre 1. The Basic Elements of Theatre1. The Basic Elements of Theatre 2. Theatre as a Form of Art2. Theatre as a Form of Art 3. Special Qualities of Theatre3. Special Qualities of Theatre 4. Art and Value4. Art and Value

Early rites was only incidentally Early rites was only incidentally theatricaltheatricalStorytelling and mimicryStorytelling and mimicryBy theatrical terminology (play, show, By theatrical terminology (play, show, acting) that suggests that theatre is acting) that suggests that theatre is the product of grown-upsthe product of grown-upsConsidered theatre not only an Considered theatre not only an acceptable form of entertainment but acceptable form of entertainment but also a truthful reflection of human also a truthful reflection of human behaviorbehavior

What is performed (script, scenario, or plan) What is performed (script, scenario, or plan)

Such events as street carnivals and parades types Such events as street carnivals and parades types of theatreof theatre

A performs B for C A performs B for C

Theatre does not require a script, dialogue, or Theatre does not require a script, dialogue, or conflictconflict

Improvised scenes, pantomimes, vaudeville Improvised scenes, pantomimes, vaudeville sketches, musical plays, and spoken drama are all sketches, musical plays, and spoken drama are all theatrical entertainments. Furthermore, they may theatrical entertainments. Furthermore, they may be brief or lengthybe brief or lengthy

Whereas others find the essence of theatre to be Whereas others find the essence of theatre to be its capacity to provoke thought or action about its capacity to provoke thought or action about significant issuessignificant issues

Theatre’s second ingredient, the performance, is Theatre’s second ingredient, the performance, is equally complexequally complex

The performance takes place in space that can vary The performance takes place in space that can vary from a building intended specifically for theatrical from a building intended specifically for theatrical performances to a street, park, or nightclubperformances to a street, park, or nightclub

It may permit the audience to surround the It may permit the audience to surround the performersperformers

A musical involves even more: composer, A musical involves even more: composer, instrumentalists, singers, choreographer, and instrumentalists, singers, choreographer, and dancersdancers

Popular musicals as Phantom of the Opera, Les Popular musicals as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, or The Lion King Miserables, or The Lion King

Peter Brook in his book The Empty Space: “I can Peter Brook in his book The Empty Space: “I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage.” take any empty space and call it a bare stage.”

The third ingredient of the theatre is the audience The third ingredient of the theatre is the audience

This live three-way interaction is a distinctive This live three-way interaction is a distinctive characteristic of theatre and a major cause of characteristic of theatre and a major cause of variations in performances from night to night variations in performances from night to night

Off-Broadway and regional theatres, with lower Off-Broadway and regional theatres, with lower costs and ticket prices, can afford to take greater costs and ticket prices, can afford to take greater chances and may seek a more restricted audience chances and may seek a more restricted audience than that wooed by Broadwaythan that wooed by Broadway

These three elements – script, performance, and These three elements – script, performance, and audience – although they may by treated audience – although they may by treated separately in discussion, interact and modify each separately in discussion, interact and modify each other in practiceother in practice

Responses to theatre are inescapably variedResponses to theatre are inescapably varied

Theatre is a form of art, and art is not Theatre is a form of art, and art is not always comfortable or comforting. It often always comfortable or comforting. It often insists on its right to look at the world in insists on its right to look at the world in unpopular ways and to challenge our ways unpopular ways and to challenge our ways of looking at ourselves and the standards of looking at ourselves and the standards of the culture that has shaped the way we of the culture that has shaped the way we view the worldview the world

Art always meant the systematic Art always meant the systematic application of known principles to achieve application of known principles to achieve some predetermined result some predetermined result

Divide the arts into two groups, “useful” Divide the arts into two groups, “useful” and “fine” and “fine”

Unfortunately in modern times, the word art Unfortunately in modern times, the word art has come to be used as a value judgmenthas come to be used as a value judgment

Popular culture and elitist culture Popular culture and elitist culture

Popular culture today would probably Popular culture today would probably encompass such forms of expression as rock encompass such forms of expression as rock music, television sitcoms, advertising art, music, television sitcoms, advertising art, and musical comedy; elitist forms would and musical comedy; elitist forms would encompass those kinds of music usually encompass those kinds of music usually heard in concert halls, the visual art shown heard in concert halls, the visual art shown in galleries and museums, and many of the in galleries and museums, and many of the theatrical productions seen in not-for-profit theatrical productions seen in not-for-profit or regional theatresor regional theatres

It employs easily recognizable character types, It employs easily recognizable character types, situations, and dramatic conventions, situations, and dramatic conventions, manipulating them with sufficient inventiveness to manipulating them with sufficient inventiveness to be entertaining but usually without raising be entertaining but usually without raising disturbing questions that challenge the audience’s disturbing questions that challenge the audience’s values and assumptionsvalues and assumptionsWhen Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot was When Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot was first performed in the 1950s, many spectators first performed in the 1950s, many spectators were unable to relate to a play in which there was were unable to relate to a play in which there was no discernible storyline beyond two tramps no discernible storyline beyond two tramps waiting for someone who never arrived. The waiting for someone who never arrived. The response of many to this innovative play was response of many to this innovative play was summed up in one of the play’s speeches: summed up in one of the play’s speeches: “Nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s terrible.” “Nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s terrible.”

Can imagined experience be a way of knowing Can imagined experience be a way of knowing and understanding? Shakespeare offers one and understanding? Shakespeare offers one answer in As You Like It (Act II, Scene 7): “All answer in As You Like It (Act II, Scene 7): “All the world’s stage, / And all the men and women the world’s stage, / And all the men and women merely players.” merely players.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge called a “willing Samuel Taylor Coleridge called a “willing suspension of disbelief” – although we know suspension of disbelief” – although we know the events of a play are not real, we agree for the events of a play are not real, we agree for the moment not to disbelieve themthe moment not to disbelieve them

Esthetic distanceEsthetic distance

This feeling of involvement is sometimes called This feeling of involvement is sometimes called empathy empathy

Art is valuable for its capacity to improve the Art is valuable for its capacity to improve the quality of life – by bringing us pleasure, by quality of life – by bringing us pleasure, by sharpening our perceptions, by increasing our sharpening our perceptions, by increasing our sensitivity to others and our surroundings, by sensitivity to others and our surroundings, by suggesting that moral and societal concerns suggesting that moral and societal concerns should take precedence over materialistic should take precedence over materialistic goalsgoals

One purpose of this book is to affirm the value One purpose of this book is to affirm the value of theatreof theatre

1.Chekhov’s The Seagullhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Cy0TDBv970Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS9KJ_bAJLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyslDVTk1Hg

Make sure the weekly group presentationsPreview if you can