Download Play Review Outline-

Name__________________________________________Period___________Date_________
Choose one review
Title_______________________________________________________________________
Author_____________________________________________________________________
Source_____________________________________________________________________
Date_____________________________________________
After reading each paragraph, determine what information the author is trying to convey.
EX: The Chicago Theatre is playing host to Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical (which is, incidentally,
this critic’s favorite children’s book) while it stops here for it’s North American Tour. Director Matt August, and his cast
and crew, quite literally bring the pages from the storybook right onto the stage. At the core, this production is for
children, but anybody who can tap into a childlike sense of wonder can have an amazing time!
http://chicagocritic.com/grinch-stole-christmas-musical/
Paragraph 1: Location, Title, general information, the author’s opinion is given, and who should see the play
Paragraph 1: Give Play information-Minutes-Songs-Songs-Actors
Paragraph 2: What its about-SummaryOpinion-Acotrs/Characters
Paragraph 3: What the story is about-ACTORS’ names
Paragraph 4: Scenery-SEAT PRICE-Costumes-Special Effects
Paragraph 5: Opinion-Who should perform this
Paragraph 6: Location-Information-Dates-Times-Where When How Much
Paragraph 7:
Play Review Outline-- The New Ensemble
HOW TO WRITE A PLAY REVIEW
Since plays are meant to be seen and heard rather than read, a play review is very different than a report on the play itself.
It requires a discerning eye and active engagement to give constructive feedback as a member of the audience. The
following is an outline of a complete theater review. (Teachers, you may check off the elements you wish students to cover specifically.)
Section 1: The Basics
 Who? (The playwright, the theater company), What? (the title of the play),
Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”
Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences
 Where? (the name of the theater or space in which it is playing), When? (what night did you see it, when is it
running?)
Drury Lane
Oakbrook, Illinois
November 20-December 23
November 20 OR 21 in the Morning
 Give a one phrase opinion on the production overall—enjoyable? Disappointing? Engaging? Confusing? Be
creative with your adjectives.
Plot: The plot of “A Christmas Carol”
The theme of “A Christmas Carol” (this production)
Section 2: The Plot
 Give a 5-6 sentence run down of the basic plot—but don’t give away too much!
IncludeTheme: Be happy every day because you should be thankful.
Giving is makes you feel better or become a better person.
Section 3: The Acting Be sure to use their real names (if possible) and character names when you mention specific people.
 Consider the following: Were they believable? How was their volume and articulation? Did their gestures and body
movement convey the character well? Were their actions strong? Did they seem to have a strong sense of imagination
and spontaneity? Who did you believe to be particularly good and why?
Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Cratchit, Jacob Marley, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Spirits
,
Section 4: The Design. Mention the designers, if at all possible.
 The Set: Did it establish the clear mood, time period, or place for the play? What did it look like? Scenery
 Costumes, Hair & Make Up: Did they seem to fit with the set? Were they well suited to the characters?
 What did changes in the costumes, hair and makeup say about the characters or the story as a whole?
 Sound: How did the sound effects and music contribute to the show's mood?
 Consider other design elements: special effects?
When you first walk into the theatre, you will notice a large tree.
Design
Hair
Costumes
Make up
Sound effects=thunder,
noise=chains
Props=chains 1843-the
1800’sScenery
Victorian
Music
time
Special
period-19th
effects=smoke/smell=elevator
Century
Snow, lightening
Chorography=Movement
Lighting=colors/brightness
Section 5: Directing, Style, and Language Be sure to mention the director’s name.
 Directing: did all of the areas of the play seem to work together well? Why or why not? Were the actors’
movements on the stage clear? Did the world of the play seem complete? Was there anything truly missing that
was needed? Was there too much in the play’s world making things confusing?
 Style: period understanding and details; cohesiveness of style among the actors (do they all seem like they’re in the
same play?);
 Language: Was the story clear—even if you didn’t understand all of the language? Did you understand more or less
of the language than you expected? Was the use of the language interesting, compelling to listen to?
Section 6: Intentions
 What do you believe is the production’s main intention? To entertain us? To make us think about something? To make
us feel something? What is it? How well does it achieve that goal?
 Overall, did you like it or dislike it? Give reasons for your opinion one way or the other.
I believe that “A Christmas Carol’s” main intentions
were to ___________________
Intentions
Want to do
something
To entertain Fun
us
Funny
Persuade
To teach us a lesson
Don’t be a Scrooge
Have/be happiness, joy,
and give and you will be
fulfilled
newensemble.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/play-review-outline.pdf
Intro: Brief Description of what is to come
Conclusion: Wraps up
Therefore
In conclusion
Although__________,
something else.
Finally, END END-Last
paragraph sentence
Even though
______,
something else.
Overall,
all in all
altogether
thus
to sum up
truly
ultimately
in conclusion
indeed
in fact
certainly
clearly
consequently
definitely
due to
obviously
overall
surely
*********