THEATER 101 CHAPTER 4 QUIZ #3
QUIZ #3 - The Critic and the Audience

What is a theater critic?

Your answer:
someone who never likes anything
someone who observes theater and then analyzes and comments on it
someone who has a very limited knowledge of theater
someone who does not appreciate theater as an art form

What does it mean to criticize a piece of theater?

Your answer:
to find fault
to understand and appraise
to ruin the careers of theater professionals
both the first two answers

Which of the following was not only a famous playwright, but also a famous theater critic?

Your answer:
William Shakespeare
Tennessee Williams
George Bernard Shaw
August Wilson

Which of the following should a good theater critic possess?

Your answer:
a full knowledge of theater history
knowledge of acting, directing, and design
a familiarity with plays of various styles and modes
all of the above

Which of the following is NOT one of Wilson's critical criteria?

Your answer:
What is being attempted?
Have the intentions been achieved?
Did I get my money's worth?
Was the attempt worthwhile?

What is descriptive criticism?

Your answer:
Criticism that attempts to illustrate as clearly and accurately as possible what is happening in the play or performance
Criticism that not only illustrates but also offers advice or comments about how the play or performance should have been done
Criticism that is positive and glowing of a play or performance
Criticism that is negative and scathing of a play or performance

What is prescriptive criticism?

Your answer:
Criticism that attempts to illustrate as clearly and accurately as possible what is happening in the play or performance
Criticism that not only illustrates but also offers advice or comments about how the play or performance should have been done
Criticism that is positive and glowing of a play or performance
Criticism that is negative and scathing of a play or performance

In reading the commentary of critics, it is important to distinguish between:

Your answer:
reality and fantasy
truth and lies
fact and opinion
fact and fiction

A reviewer is best described as:

Your answer:
one who usually works for a magazine or journal and attempts to give detailed descriptions and analyses of theater productions based on an extensive knowledge of theater
one who usually works for a newspaper, radio, or TV, has limited theater knowledge, and describes whether or not a production is worth seeing
one who works for a magazine or journal, has limited theater knowledge, and describes whether or not a production is worth seeing
one who usually works for a newspaper, radio, or TV and attempts to give detailed descriptions and analyses of theater productions based on an extensive knowledge of theater

A critic is best described as:

Your answer:
one who usually works for a magazine or journal and attempts to give detailed descriptions and analyses of theater productions based on an extensive knowledge of theater
one who usually works for a newspaper, radio, or TV, has limited theater knowledge, and describes whether or not a production is worth seeing
one who works for a magazine or journal, has limited theater knowledge, and describes whether or not a production is worth seeing
one who usually works for a newspaper, radio, or TV and attempts to give detailed descriptions and analyses of theater productions based on an extensive knowledge of theater

Even though a critic makes an unequivocal judgment about a production, the audience may not agree. Wilson describes this phenomenon as the:

Your answer:
audience's ignorance
audience's intelligence
audience's stupidity
audience's independent judgment

According to Wilson, overanalysis can cause a critic to:

Your answer:
lose sight of the immediacy, spontaneity, and joy of the theatrical experience
go insane
offend and alienate the audience
none of the above