Name: ______Period: _____
Theatre Elements
Vocal Elements
Rate – The speed at which words are spoken.
Pitch – The relative highness or lowness of the voice.
Articulation – The use of physical features of the mouth in order to control the clarity of the spoken words.
Inflection – The use of pitch to emphasize ideas.
Tone/Vocal Quality – A type of sound a voice produces. Ex: nasal, breathy, harsh.
Volume – Controlling the voice’s projection and quality so that there can be a tone set for the words spoken.
Physical Elements
Gesture – Movements of any part of the body to help express an idea.
Business – Mannerisms an actor uses with their props to reveal more about their character and make the situation more believable. (The movement is not mention in the script, but it helps show who a character is or where: For example, hanging decoration for a party.)
Facial Expression – The use of movement of any part of the face to help express an idea. (Describe what the face physically does: Their eyebrows furrowed to show they were angry.”
Blocking – Any planned motivated movements the character makes. (It must be done because the script or actor says something. For example, the actor hangs decorations for a party because an actor says “Will you help me hang this balloon?”)
Technical Elements
Sound – Background noise used to accentuate a scene.
Make-up – Cosmetics used to accentuate/create a character’s features.
Costume – Items worn on a person used to accentuate their character.
Lighting – The amount/type of light used to emphasize or blend a character into the setting. It is also used to create tone.
Properties – Also known as “props,” these are objects used by a character to create business and create a more believable character/scene.
Set Design – The area that surrounds an actor during the play to create a sense of place.
Theatre Critique
Play/Character Critique Grading Sheet & Point Breakdown
Instructions: After watching the play/musical focus on a specific character. For paragraph 1 name the actor and the character they are playing, tell me about who the character is, and tell me what the character going through in the show. For paragraphs 2 – 4, you need to list 2 terms, tell me how the term is used by the actor (emotion/subtext), and specifically tell me when the actor used the term (quotes from the show are the best way.) Everything written must be in a complete sentence. Your last paragraph needs to conclude the essay. This paper must be typed (12 pt font, Tahoma or Times New Roman.)
*The critique is due on the Monday following the final performance of the play/musical.
** Remember the 5 w’s: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How
Paragraph 1:
Who the character is and who is playing them 1 pt
The situation the character is in 5 pts
The next three paragraphs are introduced 3 pts
Language conventions (Complete Sentences, Spelling, Grammar, etc.) 1 pt
10 pts
Paragraph 2:
Use 2 of the vocal terms 2 pts
Specific examples of the 2 vocal terms and what this demonstrated 2 pts
Language conventions (Complete Sentences, Spelling, Grammar, etc.) 1 pt
5 pts
Paragraph 3:
Use 2 of the physical terms 2 pts
Specific examples of the 2 physical terms and what this demonstrated 2 pts
Language conventions (Complete Sentences, Spelling, Grammar, etc.) 1 pt
5 pts
Paragraph 4:
Use 2 of the technical terms 2 pts
Specific examples of 2 of the technical terms and what this demonstrated 2 pts
Language conventions (Complete Sentences, Spelling, Grammar, etc.) 1 pt
5 pts
Paragraph 5:
Clear sentence(s) restating main points 4 pts.
Language conventions (Complete Sentences, Spelling, Grammar, etc.) 1 pt
5 pts.
*Extra Credit:
Extra term with specific example and what was demonstrated2 pts (per term)
Total: _____/30
Grade Breakdown:
A = 30 – 27 pts.C = 23-21 pts.F = 17 – 0 pts.
B = 26 – 24 pts.D = 20 – 18 pts.
Example: Paragraph 2 (With 2 out of 6 elements)
James Earl Jones made great use of his voice when he portrayed the character Darth Vader. He used ratevery well near the end of “The Empire Strikes Back.” When Darth Vader stated, “Luke, I am your father,” he said the words slowly to emphasize the important revelation. With the help of audio equipment he also used tone well. The raspy breathing machine he used created an ominous presence which created audience suspense during that same line.
Theatre Critique
Vocal, Physical & Technical Assessment Essay
*This is a guide for your essay. You must restate your work. Any copying from this document is plagiarism and your paper will receive a zero.
Paragraph #1: Introduction
Identify a specific character from the play/musical. Describe who the character is and what their situation is. Example:
______, is a ______. By identifying how ______used vocal, physical,
(Name Character) (Short Character Description/Situation) (Name the Actor)
and the technical elements I will be able to show how they were able to bring their character to life.
Paragraph #2: Vocal Elements
Describe how the actor used two of any of the vocal elements (rate, pitch, articulation, inflection, tone/vocal quality, and volume) to create a realistic character. Use specific examples and complete sentences. Example:
______used several different vocal elements to help create the realistic character of ______.
(Name the Actor)(Name Character Played)
(List two vocal elements, how they were used by the actor, and what the use of the vocal element showed about the character.)
Paragraph #3: Physical Elements
Describe how the actor used two of any of the physical elements (gesture, business, facial expression, and blocking) to create a believable character. Use specific examples and complete sentences. Example:
______used many vocal elements to help create the realistic character of ______.
(Name the Actor) (Name Character Played)
(List two physical elements, how they were used by the actor, and what the use of the physical element showed about the character.)
Paragraph #4: Technical Elements
Describe how the makers/actor of the play/musical used two of the technical elements (sound, make-up, costume, lighting, properties, and setting/set design) to bring the show/their character to life. Use specific examples and complete sentences. Example:
The technicians working on the show and ______used a variety of technical elements in creating the
(Name the Actor)
atmosphere for the character ______. (List two technical elements, how they were used by the actor,
(Name Character Played)
and what the use of the technical elements showed about the character/scene.)
Paragraph #5: Closure
Stating the name of your actor and restating the theatre elements, write a closing paragraph to your paper. Example:
By incorporating various vocal, physical and technical theatre elements into their performance ______,
(Name the Actor)
and the creators of the show were able to create a memorable and realistic piece of theatre.
Name: ______Period: _____
Theatre Critique Outline
*This is due the following Monday after a show.
This assignment is due no later than the Monday after the show. This assignment will help you write your theatre critique by providing all the information you need to write a clear essay backed up with facts. This outline needs to be attached to the back of your typed essay.
Paragraph 1 -- Introduction
1. What actor are you critiquing?
2. What character did that person play?
3. What is this character’s situation? ______
Paragraph 2 – Vocal Elements
1. Write down a line when your performer use rate (The speed at which words are spoken.) ______
2. Describe how your performer specifically used rate during that line. ______
3. Write down a line when your performer used pitch (The relative highness or lowness of the voice.) ______
4. Describe how your performer specifically used pitch during that line. ______
5. Write down a line when your performer used articulation (The use of physical features of the mouth in order to
control the clarity of the spoken words.) ______
6. Describe how your performer specifically used articulation during that line. ______
7. Write down a line when your performer used inflection (The use of pitch to emphasize ideas.) ______
8. Describe how your performer specifically used inflection during that line. ______
9. Write down a line when your performer used tone/vocal quality (A type of sound a voice produces. Ex: nasal,
breathy, harsh.) ______
10. Describe how your performer specifically used tone/vocal quality during that line. ______
11. Write down a line when your performer used volume (Controlling the voice’s projection and quality so that there
can be a tone set for the words spoken.) ______
12. Describe how your performer specifically used volume during that line. ______
Paragraph 3 – Physical Elements
1. Write down a line when your performer use gestures (Movements of any part of the body to help express an
idea.) ______
2. Describe how your performer specifically used gestures during that line. ______
3. Write down a line when your performer used business (Mannerisms an actor uses with their props to reveal more
about their character and make the situation more believable.) ______
______
4. Describe how your performer specifically used business during that line. ______
5. Write down a line when your performer used facial expressions (The use of movement of any part of the face to
help express an idea.)______
6. Describe how your performer specifically used facial expressions during that line. ______
7. Write down a line when your performer used blocking (Any planned motivated movements the character makes.)
8. Describe how your performer specifically used blocking during that line. ______
Paragraph 4 – Technical Elements
1. Specifically describe what the sound effectwas(Background noise used to accentuate a scene.) ______
2. Describe how thesoundenhanced the production. ______
3. Specifically describe howyour performer used make-up (Cosmetics used to accentuate/create a character’s
features.) ______
4. Specifically describe your performer’scostume (Items worn on a person used to accentuate their
character.) ______
5. Describe what the costumetold you about the character. ______
6. Specifically describe thelighting for a specific moment in the show (The amount/type of light used to emphasize
or blend a character into the setting. It is also used to create tone.) ______
7. Describe how thatlightingeffected that moment in the production. ______
8. Specifically describe when your performer used properties (Also known as “props,” these are objects used by a
character to create business and create a more believable character/scene.) ______
9. Describe how your performer specifically used properties during that line. ______
10. Specifically describe the set design (The area that surrounds an actor during the play to create a sense of
place.) ______
11. Describe how theset designinfluenced the production. ______
Paragraph 5 – Closing Paragraph
1. How did the actor effectively or ineffectively use vocal elements to create the show? ______
2. How did the actor effectively or ineffectively use physical elements to create the show? ______
3. How did the actor effectively or ineffectively use technical elements to create the show? ______
Total: _____/37