Crash Course in Theatre History Quiz

Answer: Minoan palace at Phaistos

Minoan theatres were located inside or near palaces, almost like ballrooms. In addition to 'dramatic' presentations, they were also used for dances, ceremonies and bull-leaping. If you want to see one preserved, however, you are unfortunately out of luck.

Answer: Terence

Hrosvitha (pronounced roze-veeta) used Terence's comedies as models for her plays which include 'Dulcitus', 'Abraham' and 'Callimachus'. Since Terence's works were secular, Hrosvitha, being a canoness at the monastery of Gandersheim, used religious subject matter while keeping the humor.

Answer: An outbreak of the plague

During this time period, all public theatres had been shut down in England. The only dramatic performances took place in private theatres that were owned and operated with the king's authorization. Blackfriars was one such theatre, and was built in 1596.

Answer: Commedia sabbattini

Commedia dell'arte was a form of theatre extremely popular in its native land of Italy. Basically an improv with stock characters, it had many forms including 'commedia all'improviso', a totally improvised version of performances and 'commedia asoggetto', a performance that developed onstage from preconceived plots or themes. 'Commedia erudite' was the amature version, literally a learned comedy; the amateur actors would devise their own copies of professional scenarios and characters. Sabbattini was a lighting designer of the time period who published 'Manual for Constructing Theatrical Scenes and Machines' in 1638

Answer: Roll drops

Roll drops are background scenes that, as the name suggests, roll down to reveal a scene for the actors to act in front of. The device was not really used frequently until after 1690.

Answer: Operatic

Frederick, who ruled from 1740-1786, was a huge fan of opera and staged amazingly detailed productions. Also extremely fond of French theatrical forms, he hired French acting troupes to perform in his private theatre.

Answer: Manager at the Olympic Theatre

Lucia Vestris was an excellent and important manager for many reasons including the fact that she paid close attention to all details of a production and integrated them into one organized concept. Born Lucia Elizabetta Bartolozzi, she lived from 1797-1856.

Answer: Directing

One of Montigny's many innovations as a director was to position the actors simply. Instead of having them stand in odd places near the front of the stage he utilized furniture and would have the actors sit on and walk around set pieces. Also, he began directing his actors to speak to each other instead of aim their lines at the audience.

Answer: Building morale

Shows were devoted to showcasing Russian playwrights, foreign authors were rarely, if ever, performed. Russian traditions were the forefront subject of the plays performed, and all the works were edited and censored to uphold strict Communist views.

Answer: Military

The Beijing Opera is simply amazing, a visual feast. The stage is basically bare in order to put more focus on the actors who are all playing 'type' roles. Lavishly costumed and wearing layers of character make-up, the types of characters are the men, women, painted face and comic. Each type has a subcatagory as well, for example, the men include young men, old men and military.