Preparation:
Before
you go to see UD’s Resident Ensemble Players production
of The Hostage (Oct. 22- Nov. 8), carefully read through the
following questions. Your review does not have to answer all
of these questions—not all of them are applicable to all
productions—but thinking about them before you go to
the performance will make you more observant and help with
your recall
when writing the review. Consider taking notes while at the
play, as specifics will be the basis of your review.
1. What were the stage space and audience space?
2. What was immediately striking about the overall “look” of
the production?
3. Was there a set? What was it like? If it was changed during
performance, how was this done?
4. How would you describe the use of space, including blocking
and movement?
5. What kinds of sounds were you aware of (include silences, non-vocal
noises, special effects)?
6. Did you notice anything about the lighting and how it was used?
7. Did any costumes stand out as especially significant? Could
you tell what the period was meant to be?
8. Consider the effect of casting choices—including gender,
race, age, body types, and agility—on the overall production.
9. Comment on the casts’ ability to work together. Did the
members “gel” with one another?
10. Was the text of the play cut or altered in any way?
11. How would you describe the pace of the production? If there
was an intermission, describe any differences between the parts
(e.g. did the pace move more quickly after the intermission?).
12. What moments gave you particular pleasure or unease?
13. What were the major themes of the production and how did the
director or actors emphasize those themes?
14. In what ways, if any, was the director’s interpretation
different from what you had expected? Which elements of the production
did he or she most emphatically employ to convey that interpretation?
15. Did the audience reaction ever surprise you? How so?
Writing:
1.
Organize your thoughts:
Using
your observations guided by the questions above, piece
together the reasons for your opinion
about the play. Using specific elements you witnessed
during the performance, construct a thesis statement
for your paper.
Your thesis statement should include the specific qualities
or instances that you thought made the performance a
success or
failure. Is there wiggle room between these two judgments?
Yes, but you should probably figure out what about the
production either made you ultimately
enjoy it or not. See below for more directions on how
to best structure your paper.
2.
Tone:
Do not write a purely descriptive review (“The lighting
created many blue colors”), or an overly critical one (“The
lighting was harsh and failed to elicit the effects it attempted”).
You must find a balance between these two so that your judgment
of the play appears based
on the qualities of the production rather than on how much Starbucks and/or
Pepperoni Pizza you consumed before the show. In other words, maintain a
professional yet engaged tone throughout. You’re not being
graded on how angry or elated you can be in regard to a production,
but how well you justify how this
particular artistic moment evoked your emotions. See below for more directions
regarding your language.
