Details Title: Interpreting the Drama Description: Chapter 4 Vocab Total Flash Cards: 102 Created: 04/13/2009 16:35:04		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Fine Art Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term emotional or subjective acting Definition when actors play their parts in such a way that they actually weep, suffer, or struggle emotionally in front of the audience Term technical or objective acting Definition performance is based on acting technique Term leading roles Definition main characters in the play Term protagonist Definition person who must solve the problem that arises in the play or be defeated in the conflict Term antagonist Definition person who opposes the goals of the protagonist Term supporting roles Definition characters who act as contrasts to others with whom other characters, usually the protagonist, are compared Term foil Definition a character with whom another character, usually the protagonist, is compared Term character parts Definition almost alwas include some distinguishing trait, idiosyncrasy, or personality type Term typecasting Definition casting someone over and over again in the same kind of role Term versatility Definition the ability to change style or character with ease Term secondary sources Definition the books that you read to help shed light on your character Term body language Definition communication that uses gestures, postures, and facial expresstions instead of words Term master gesture Definition a distinctive action that serves as a clue to a character's personality Term leading center Definition the part of the body that appears to lead gestures, such as the chest as a leading center for a brave character Term straight parts Definition usually resemble in appearance and personality the characters the playwright had in mind Term characterization Definition putting together all facets of a character to bring life and interest to that character Term primary source Definition an individual whose posture, movements, habits, voice inflections, and manerisms are observed in order to build character Term cross Definition movement from one stage postition to another Term "cheat out" Definition when he or she pivots the torso and turns the face toward the audience Term "share a scene" Definition stand or sit parallel to another actor Term "giving the scene" Definition when he or she crosses downstage and then turns slightly upstage toward the other actor Term "turning the scene in" Definition when they shift the angle of their bodies upstage and look directly at the scene's key character Term "taking yourself out of a scene" Definition an actor who turns away from the audience into a three-quarter back or full position draws attention away from himself or herself. Term inflections Definition rising, falling, sustained, and circumflex Term rising inflection Definition used to indicate questioning, surprise, or shock Term falling inflection Definition usually signals the end of a statement also used to express depresstion, finality, or firmness Term sustained inflection Definition staying on the same note which suggests calmness, decisivness, or steadiness or purpose Term circumflex inflection Definition the intonation of two or more vowel sounds for a what ordinarily is a single vowel sound Term subtext Definition what your character thinks but does not say Term substitution Definition the  use by an actor of a personal experience to relate to the experience of a character within a play Term improvisation Definition the impromptu portrayal of a character without preparation or rehersal Term cut-off lines Definition lines that are interrupted by another speaker Term fade-off lines Definition the speaker trails off rather than finishing the line Term pointing lines Definition placing the emphasis on exactly the right word and timing the rate and pauses so that the audience gets the full emotional impact Term paraphrasing Definition figuring out the meaning of the line and stating it in your own words Term laugh curve Definition the audience's reaction that actors listen for in order to anticipate the length of time the audience will laugh Term ad-lib Definition to improvise stage buisness or conversation Term at rise Definition who and what are onstage when the curtain opens Term back or backstage Definition the area behind the set or that part of the stage that is not visible to the audience, including dressing rooms, shops and offices Term bit part Definition an acting role with very few lines, a piece of stage buisness in one scene Term blocking yourself Definition getting behind furniture or other actors so that you cannot be seen by the audience Term building a scene Definition using dramatic devices, such as increased tempo, volume, and emphasis, to bring a scene to climax Term buisness Definition any specific action (other than changing location) preformed on the stage, such as picking up a book or turning on a television set Term C Definition the symbol used to identify the center of the stage Term countercross Definition a movement in a direction opposite to a cross to balance the stage picture Term cover Definition to obstruct the view of the audience; use of ad-lib to cover an unexpected, unwanted event during a performance Term cue Definition the last words, action, or technical effect that immediatley precedes any line or buisness; a stage signal Term curtain Definition the curtain or drapery that shuts off the stage from the audience; when written in all capital letters in a script, it indicates that the curtain is to be closed Term cut Definition to stop action; to omit Term cut in Definition to break into the speech of another character Term down or downstage Definition the part of the stage toward the audience Term dressing the stage Definition as a technical term, placing furnishings, pictures, and similar items to complete and balance a set; keeping the stage picture balanced during the action Term enter Definition to move onto the stage Term exit or exeunt Definition to leave the stage Term feeding Definition giving lines and action in such a way that another actor can make a point or get a laugh  Term foil Definition an acting role that is used for personality comparison, usually with the main character Term hand props Definition items (properties) such as tools, weapons, or luggage carried onstage by an individual player Term hit Definition to emphasize a word or line with extra force Term holding for laughs Definition waiting for the audience to quiet down after a funny line or scene Term left and right Definition terms used to refer to the stage from an actor's point of view, not from that of the audience Term milk Definition to draw the maximum response from the audience from comic lines or action Term off or offstage Definition off the visible stage Term on or onstage Definition on the visible stage Term overlap Definition to speak when someone else is speaking Term pace Definition the movement or sweep of the play as it progresses Term personal props Definition the small props that are usually carried in an actor's costume, such as money, matches, a pipe, or a pen Term places Definition the stage command for actors to take their positions at the opening of an act or scene Term principals Definition the main characters in a play or the named characters in a musical Term properties or props Definition all the stage furnishings, including furniture and those items brought onstage by the actors Term ring up Definition to raise the curtain Term role scoring Definition the analysis of a character Term script scoring or scripting Definition the marking of a script for one character, indicating interpretation, pauses, phrasing, stress, and so on Term set Definition the scenery for an act or a scene Term set props Definition properties placed onstage for the use of actors Term sides Definition half-sheet pages of a script that contains the lines, cues, and buisness for one character Term stealing a scene Definition attracting attention from the person to whom the audience's interest legitimately belongs Term subtext Definition the unstated or "between the lines" meaning that an actor must draw from the script Term tag line Definition the last speech in an act or play, usually humorous or clever Term taking the stage Definition giving an actor the freedom to move over the entire stage area, usually during a lengthy speech Term tempo Definition the speed at which the action of a play moves along Term timing Definition the execution of a line or a piece of business at a specific moment to achieve the most telling effect Term top Definition to make a line stronger that the line or lines preceding it by speaking at a higher pitch, at a faster rate, or with greater volume and emphasis Term up or upstage Definition the area toward the rear of the stage away from the audience Term upstaging Definition improperly taking attention from an actor who should be the focus of interest Term walk-on Definition a small acting part that has no lines Term warn cue Definition notification of an upcoming action or cue; usually indicating the promptbook Term 1.) Internalizing Definition when actors internalize a character, they develope a deep personal understanding of what the character is really like Term 2.) Externalizing Definition the process by which the true personalitly of a character is made visible to an audience Term 3.) Concentrating Definition the ability to direct all your thoughts, energies, and skills into what you are doing at any single moment Term 4.) observing Definition observing people carefully, noting how they communicate fine shades of emotion Term 5.)  Emotional Memory Definition recalling of specific emotions that you have experienced or observed Term 6.) Projecting Definition once inner feelings are externilized, they  must be projected to the audience Term 7.) Motiviating Definition the why of charaverization, to be believable your character's behavior must be driven by an inner force Term 8.) Stretching a Character Definition the process of making a role unique, individual, and interesting Term 9.) The Consistent Inconsistency Definition a special personality trait of a character that the actor chooses to emphasize Term 10.) Playing the Conditions Definition conditions are the elements of time, place, weather, objects, and the state of the individual Term 11.) Playing the Objectives Definition includes all the ways and means that a character uses to reach a goal Term 12.) Playing the Obstacles Definition facing each crisis or obstacle that stands in the way of an objective as the character would face it Term 13.) Playing the Object Definition how an actor uses objects onstage to project character Term 14.) Energy Definition the fuel that drives acting, both individual preformance and group performance Term 15.) Focus Definition directs the actor's attention, action, emotion, or line delivery to a definite target Term 16.) Unigueness Definition every actor who plays a character should be unique in that role, not merely a close copy of someone else