So, You Want to Be an Actor? Trivia Quiz

Answer: improvisation

"Don't go to New York and study. Don't act. OK? Just, you know- do it. Don't act it, don't show it- just do it."

That's what James Dean said to Dennis Hopper during the filming of the "Chickie Run" scene in "Rebel Without A Cause." Hopper wanted to know how Dean could "just do it," and asked Dean if he should go to New York to study acting.

Answer: protagonist

Good or bad, the protagonist is the main character. Even Jason, Freddie, and Scarlett O'Hara were protagonists. . .

Answer: Strong regional accent (southern, Bostonian, etc.)

Although sometimes an accent IS important for a particular piece, it is not a key to a good speaking voice. Yeah, Rocky "hadda soun' stoopid," and Stallone did a good job at THAT. 'Nuf said.

Answer: Tevye, "Fiddler on the Roof"

While all of these are "characters," Margot, Norman, and the Good, play a straight (never changing) role. Tevye, however, is a supposed "traditional" Jewish father who steps out of a traditional role throughout the work.

All four of these roles are excellently (in the films) played by: Topol (Tevye), Grace Kelly (Margot), Norman (Gene Hackman), and Clint Eastwood (The Good). I'll bet a lot of you picked Clint because he was unnamed, alas . . .

Answer: motivation

Exposition gives us the setting, characters, and introduces the plot (who, where, when, and why); the plot is the related events that take place (no plot? no play); the theme is the basic idea of the play -- we need to have some understanding of the "why" (which is just one more reason for me to hate the Harry Potter series)

Motivation? BECAUSE THE DIRECTOR SAYS SO! Actors can get so uppity! Just sayin'. . .

Answer: "Cujo," Stephen King

Tragedies are sober, thoughtful works based on profound human emotions and conflicts. Wow, did you read "Cujo?" Forget the movie. A comedy, on the other hand, treats characters and situations in a humorous way and has a happy ending.

"Earnest" is pure comedy
"Gulliver" is satire
The Obama thing is my made up political statement -- it doesn't exist.

Answer: "Make It Easy, Mary Wollstonecraft," Oscar Wilde

All of them are absurd, but "Make It Easy, Mary Wollstonecraft" doesn't exist. Maybe I'll write it and call myself O.W. Never try to have a decent conversation with an absurdist at a cocktail party . . . just sayin'.

Answer: bandages

Even if you are a guy (and I am a guy), you MUST have mascara and lipstick in your kit (call it a tackle box instead of a beauty box, if you must -- mine is literally a tackle box from Wal-Mart).

And even if you are a female, ALWAYS have spirit gum (glue) available, you may have to do Shakespeare at some point, or a cute (and hopefully straight) actor may have run out. . . just sayin'.

As far as bandages go, they are nice to have, but most theaters have first aid kits (or the costume department can whip up something). Besides, blood is dramatic.

Answer: gelatin

A gelatin is a flimsy piece of colored plastic we used to put over lights to change the tone of the scene (new-fangled lighting systems are expensive). I discovered (to my horror) that my best lighting is pitch black. Just sayin'.

Answer: lunch

Lunch may be important to the person, but has no bearing whatsoever on the set design. Heck, he/she is lucky to get 10 to gobble a half dead tuna on white with a pickle if he/she works in the theaters I have.