Exit Stage Left Multiple Choice Quiz | 10 Questions

Answer: To exit the stage to an actor's left hand side

The instruction to exit stage left means the actor must leave the stage to their left (or right hand side from the audience's perspective). However, the phrase is generally associated with leaving the stage in an orderly manner, so as not to detract from the performance.

Answer: A break or intermission

The word entr'acte comes from the French word "entracte", meaning between the acts. This term is used in the theatre to mark the end of part one of the performance, allowing a break for the cast and audience. Entr'acte is an alternative to using the term intermission, which comes from the Italian word "intermezzo".

Answer: Close to the audience whilst on stage

The terms downstage, centre stage, and upstage refer to the position of the actor on stage in relationship to the audience. If a cast member was given a direction to be downstage during a scene, they would be close to the audience.

Answer: The actor would be postioned on the left hand side of the stage from the audience's perspective

The direction stage right involves the actor being positioned to the right of another actor, which makes them seem to be closer to the left hand side of the stage from the audience's perspective. If speaking to another actor, the right hand side of the actor's face would be in profile.

Answer: Getting themselves in the right position for stage lighting

Finding your light means finding the right position on stage for the actor to be illuminated by stage lighting by sensing the heat given off by stage lighting. Spike tape can also be used as a marker for where an actor, or particular prop, must be on stage during the performance.

Answer: Notes only for the actor with lines and cues

Sides are generally pages from a script, containing only the actor's lines and cues. Sides can also be used for an audition, where an actor may be given a few pages from a script at a read-through. Also, giving an actor only a few pages of a script for a read-through can help prevent any details of a plot for a new production being leaked to the public.

Answer: Stopping between lines to bring attention to a particular event

Pausing for effect describes a situation when an actor deliberately stops between lines to bring the audience's attention to a particular moment or event happening during the performance. By pausing for a brief moment before or during a speech, an actor can allow the audience to digest what is being said, thus allowing the audience to understand its importance within the particular scene being played out.

Answer: Giving a speech while talking to themselves

A soliloquy is a speech delivered by an actor who is talking to themselves while alone on stage. Some of the most famous soliloquies are from Shakespeare: the "To be, or not to be" speech given by Hamlet, Macbeth's "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" speech and Juliet's "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" speech from "Romeo and Juliet".

Answer: Their vocal range from lowest to highest note while singing

The term range is used to describe the vocal extent of an actor's voice when singing, from the lowest note to the highest. Male actors are usually classed as having one of a bass, baritone, tenor or countertenor vocal range when singing. Female actors can have an alto, contralto, soprano or mezzo-soprano vocal range when singing.

In dramatic productions, an actor's range may describe the different types of characters they can play. Alternatively, the term can be used to describe the various emotions an actor is capable of expressing while playing a particular character.

Answer: An actor's ability to command the audience's attention

The term presence literally means an actor having the ability to command the audience's attention above all other cast members during a performance. An actor with presence is generally regarded as being a good actor, capable of making the character they play more believable to the audience, even if the character they are playing is only a minor character in the production.