Download Chapter 1: The Nature of Theatre

Chapter 2: The Audience and Criticism
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The Audience completes the creative
process
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Key concepts:
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Perception
Interpretation
Intention
Key Concepts
Perception: the audience’s experience of the
performance
Interpretation: how the audience derives meaning
from the performance
Intention: what the artists (director, playwright, etc.)
try to communicate to the audience through the
performance
The audience’s interpretation may or may not match
the artists’ intentions
Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance versus Film
 Theatre and Film differ in numerous ways,
including how the audience experiences these two
types of performance.
Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance
 Occasion
Generally, theatre is considered more of a formal or
special occasion than film.
 Tickets
Generally, reservations must be made well in advance.
 Seating
Seating is often reserved, with your assigned seat
number appearing on your ticket.
Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance
 Credits
Credits and other information about the production are
on a printed program, given to the audience as they
enter the theatre.
 Setting/Scenery
The setting or scenery is often fully viewable before the
start of the performance.
Additionally, scenery may or may not be realistic - a
common convention of theatrical performance.
Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance
 Intermissions
Theatrical performances often include one or more
intermissions. At intermission, the audience is free to
leave the theatre space briefly.
 Focus
Unlike film, where the audience’s focus is directed by
the camera, theatrical performance enables each
audience member to choose where to look and for how
long. Theatrical artists employ techniques to guide the
audience’s focus; but ultimately, each audience
member chooses what and how to watch.
Watching a Performance
Theatrical Performance versus Film
Quality
Theatre
Film
Occasion
Tickets
Seating
Credits
Setting
Scenery
Intermission
Audience Focus
Special/Formal
Reserved
Reserved
In program before
Often visible prior
May not be realistic
Yes
Viewer’s choice
Regular/Informal
Purchase just before
Open
Credits roll after
Hidden prior
Usually realistic
No
Determined by camera
Who is the Audience?
Audiences vary significantly in
several ways:
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Aesthetic Tastes
Education
Economic Status
Race
Age
Culture
Community
Influence of Audiences on Theatrical
Production
• The choice of what is performed
• The style in which the production is performed
• The way in which the production is marketed
• The duration of the run; how many performances
are given
What do YOU think?
1. What are some reasons why producers and
theatres should consider the intended audience
when selecting and offering theatrical
performances?
2. What might happen if such consideration is NOT
given?
3. Suppose a particular theatre’s main audience is
composed of white, upper middle class patrons.
What are some of the issues that might arise if this
theatre tries to attract new audiences, such as
Hispanics or gays and lesbians?
Influence of Audiences on Theatrical
Production
Ongoing Questions for Theatres:
• How many audiences do we wish to
attract/serve?
• How can we meet the differing interests of these
multiple audiences?
Theatre cannot exist without audiences.
Sensitivity to varying audience tastes and interests is
essential to achieving a diversified theatre.
The Audience and Critical Perspective
3-Step Process for Evaluating the Theatrical Experience:
1. One experiences the performance
2. One analyzes the performance
3. One communicates one’s response to another
This process reveals information about our personal tastes or
aesthetics, by illuminating our thoughts and feelings.
The Critic
Criticism = the act of making judgments
The 3 Basic Concerns of the Critic:
1. Understanding: What were the artists trying to do?
2. Effectiveness: How well did they do it?
3. Ultimate Worth: How valuable was the experience?
Making Connections
How do you define for yourself what makes a production
satisfying or not? To answer this question, consider a
play or perhaps a movie that you’ve seen and your
response to it.
 Make a list of 5 pros and 5 cons about the
production.
 Write a short review using your list as a basic
outline.