Romeo and Juliet
Watch the performance of Romeo and Juliet and write a critique of the production. Watch it critically. Notice how the issues that you have read about in the textbook are reflected in the play. Genres, Theatrical style, acting style, Theme, design, storytelling, etc. – all of these elements are at work in the production. Then you will write a 800 word critique of the production. You may talk about anything you like, but I suggest that you discuss the elements of theater that have been discussed from the textbook. This is similar to the Non-Art Theatre Performance Critique. Please relate what you witnessed back to the ideas and concepts from both The Creative Spirit and The Necessity of Theatre. You may discuss the following: What was the action? Did you relate to the characters? Was it worth watching?
How to write your paper
The Facts:
800 word minimum
12 point type size
Readable Font
Conventional margins
When you watch the play, you need to ask yourself these three questions taken from the German writer Goethe (these are similar questions brought up by Woodruff):
Goethe’s Three Questions
• What was the artist trying to do?
What was the genre? Were they trying to make you laugh? Cry? Was it just simple entertainment?
• Did the artist succeed in doing it?
Did you laugh? Cry? Yes or no?
• Was it worth Doing?
Did you like what you saw? Were you entertained? Would you go back to see the production a second time? Was it worth watching?
When organizing your paper, think of the different elements that went into creating the production. Choose 3-4 elements from the flowing list. (There are more elements – this is just to help get you started)
What did you like?
• Acting
• Directing
• Costumes
• Set
• Genre
• Story/Subject
What did you not like?
• Acting
• Directing
• Costumes
• Set
• Sound
• Story/Subject
Then answer the three questions using the chosen elements and specific examples from the production you attended to support your answers. For example:
• Acting
• Directing
• Costumes
Possible Topics
• Acting
– Lead Actor (Hamlet)
– Supporting (Claudius)
– Supporting (Ophelia)
• Directing
– Pace
– Staging
– What was the point?
Finally, organize your paper.
Paper Title
Paragraph one
o What show did you attend? Who produced it? What will be covered in the paper? Etc.
Paragraph two
o What was the artist trying to do?
Acting/Directing/Costumes
Paragraph three
o Did the artist succeed in doing it?
Acting/Directing/Costumes
Paragraph Four
o Conclusion – Was it worth Doing? (Did you like it?)
*This is just an example of how to organize your paper.
The following links will take you to websites with theatrical critiques. You should take a look to help get you started.
http://thecolumnawards.org/columnonline/reviews.asp
http://www.nytimes.com/theater/venues/broadway.html
