Question 1: Identify one method a playwright might use to create tension in a dialogue scene. Explain how this technique affects the audience's perception of the scene.

Answer: A playwright might use short, rapid exchanges of dialogue to build tension, making the scene feel urgent and stressful for the audience. This technique heightens emotional intensity and keeps viewers engaged.

Question 2: Describe how a character's use of body language can reveal their inner feelings during a performance. Provide an example of a specific gesture and its possible meaning.

Answer: Body language such as crossed arms might indicate defensiveness or discomfort. For example, if a character avoids eye contact and shrinks back, it could suggest they are feeling guilty or afraid.

Question 3: Explain the significance of stage directions in a script. How do they influence a director’s interpretation of a scene?

Answer: Stage directions provide detailed instructions on how characters move and behave, guiding the director's interpretation. They help shape the mood, pacing, and physical dynamics of the scene.

Question 4: Choose a character from a play you have studied. Write a brief analysis of how the playwright reveals this character’s personality through their spoken lines.

Answer: The playwright reveals the character’s confidence through assertive language, such as commanding phrases or bold statements, showing they are self-assured and dominant.

Question 5: Draw a simple diagram of a stage layout that allows for a ‘close-up’ scene to be performed. Label the key areas needed for this type of scene.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a stage with an emphasis on the front area for close-up acting, with clear labels such as 'stage front,' 'actor positioning,' and 'audience area.' The diagram should reflect minimal set but focus on proximity to the audience.

Question 6: Identify and explain one dramatic technique used to develop a scene's mood. How does this technique influence the audience?

Answer: Lighting is a dramatic technique; dim lighting can create a somber or tense mood, making the audience feel uneasy or reflective.

Question 7: How can a character’s dialogue reveal their social status or background? Provide an example of language that might indicate this.

Answer: A character using formal, complex language may indicate a higher social status, such as 'I request your assistance,' compared to informal speech like 'Can you help me?'

Question 8: Sketch a basic costume idea for a villain in a play. Include notes on the color choice and clothing style to convey their personality.

Answer: A correct sketch would show dark-colored, sharp-edged clothing, perhaps with exaggerated features like a high collar or pointed accessories, to suggest menace and villainy.

Question 9: Discuss how silence or pauses can be used effectively in a scene. What is the impact on the audience?

Answer: Silence or well-placed pauses can build suspense, emphasize a character’s emotional state, or create dramatic tension, making the audience anticipate what will happen next.

Question 10: Choose a scene from a play and describe how the playwright uses contrast (e.g., between dialogue and silence, or light and dark) to enhance the drama.

Answer: The playwright uses a bright, cheerful dialogue scene followed by a sudden darkening of the stage to create contrast, heightening the emotional impact and emphasizing the shift in mood.