Performance Critique: Attend a live performance and write a critique of it.
Description: At some point in the semester I am asking that you attend a live theater performance outside of school. While you can absolutely attend a big Broadway musical for this assignment (check out my suggestions for cheap tickets) I would encourage you to consider visiting an off-Broadway or off-off-Broadway production. These are often terrific shows focusing on story and performance over glitz and production quality. They’re also considerably cheaper.
When viewing the play, try to focus on just enjoying the production. Take in the atmosphere, the story, the performances. Bask in the moment of being swept away to another world by living people in front of you. Indulge in it.
Once the performance is over, however, take a moment to consider all aspects of the production: scenic design, set design, prop design, direction, acting, writing. Consider them each individually and then together as a cohesive unit. How do they function to help (hinder?) the telling of the story?
In sitting down to write this piece of criticism, take into account that you are writing about this play. This is not a comparison to anything discussed in class thus far. Focus on the play you watched and your thoughts about it. After developing those thoughts, express and support them using the lessons and terminology used in class. Think of yourself more as Ben Brantly reviewing In The Heights and less as a crazy anonymous twitter person complaining about the new Star Wars not being as good as the old Star Wars.
In writing about this production of the play, however, I recommend taking a look at the various axillary details which might inform you about it. For example, what is the time period? Is there a comparison happening between that time period and our current era? If this is not the first production of the play, what have previous productions been like? Is there a statement being made in comparison to those productions (think casting Romeo as Latin and Juliet as Black – there could be a statement there…or it could simply be blind casting)?
In examining these numerous issues, you will need to do a bit of research. I will recommend visiting the Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center as a TREMENDOUS resource. That said, however, I will try to set something up with the BMCC library to help with research.
To serve as a brief guide, I’d like you to consider the following before starting your paper. You do not necessarily have to answer the questions specifically but I would suggest using it as a helpful tool in starting your paper:
– How did the design aspects influence your enjoyment/understanding of the play?
– Were the actors committing? How could you tell?
– Was there a specific concept that the director was trying to convey?
– How did the playwright contrive scenes to share the story with the audience?
– Where did you see the play? Did the location impact your feelings about the production?
– Did you enter the production with prior biases which could have impacted your enjoyment of the show?
This critique is designed to have all the lessons of the semester applied toward the analysis of the production. As such, successful papers will use proper terminology, examples from the play, possibly historical relevance, and an acknowledgment of its place in contemporary times.
Length: 5 pages
Assessment: See attached rubric (Rubric for Performance Critique)
