Brent Schafer
Professor Jason Eckard
Drama 103
19 July 2015
Stage versus Screen In today’s contemporary society, it is very common for people to be familiar with the filmed productions. It can be more convenient as people can view many different entertainment options from the comfort of their couches. However, this creates an experience that tends to distance the viewer from the production. For this assignment, first went to Orpheus Descending directed by Ryan Purcell at the 12th Ave Arts theatre. Next, I watched the 2012 version of Les Misérables directed by Tom Hooper. At the end of the play that I saw, I was shocked at how I felt afterwards. Not only did the story make me think, but the way the story was presented to the audience also gave me something else to compare to movie going. Major differences that I found between the stage and the screen were the acting, the audience, and the design of the show. After seeing a play in person and viewing a film on my computer, I believe that stage and screen are very much different from each other. As a child, my parents took me to a few plays such as the Lion King and other big productions. Coming into this assignment, that was my background knowledge. When I went to the theatre to watch Orpheus Descending, I was shocked to see that the stage was in a small black box theatre. The space was much smaller than I was used to. By the time that I arrived at the theatre, the only seats that were open were chairs set up on
Above all, I wouldn’t be where I am today without theatre. Without the chance to perform throughout my life, I would be disconnected from the wide array of communities and histories that’s been imbedded in my daily routine. Unfortunately, it’s speculated that the theatre is a dying art form, because of the expanding popularities of movies (“Is”), but I think that it’ll remain a well renowned part of expressing imagination and interpreting history as years pass; it only takes cooperation with school faculty and young students that go above and beyond to change their
We then talked about the essence of how this grand type of story could be effectively performed in a small wooden theater. We talked about the bond between the author, actors, and audience that exists in the theater. We also talked about the text of the prologue in which the chorus simply asks the audience to use their imaginations by requesting that they suspend disbelief. In this the Chorus essentially pleads with the audience to view the representations presented to them as what they are intended more than what they are. For this to be effective the triple bond comes into play, the writing, acting and audience participation are all required to properly appreciate the story as it was intended.
Mary Oliver uses the aspects of nature and humanity in her poem "Except for the body" to emphasize the subjectivity of beauty. Oliver recognizes that there could be something more appealing in the eyes of others, despite her greater respect for the natural world. The poem starts with a statement expressing the beauty of someone you love. " Except for the body of someone you love," it states.
Although standing out as an individual may seem as a reliable option for some, in most cases conforming may also be the best as well. As examples, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, “Shooting an Elephant”, and “Little Boxes” demonstrate acts characters face in order to choose when it is right to conform or when it is right to become an individual. In the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck is faced with a dilemma of trying to find himself as a person in a world that does not really understand him. In addition to trying to fit in with society, he is caught between deciding whether to conform into what everyone's thoughts are against Blacks or becoming an individual and standing up as to what he thinks should be done.
Michael Hoffman’s 1999 film version of Shakespeare's midsummer night’s dream was able to modify the audience experience of the play. Michael Hoffman had successfully turned the play into a film and was able to show a visible expression of the characters to the audience. He had also made some changes, like the settings and made his version modernized. Though the film was based on the Shakespeare’s play, the audience’s experience is still different.
The world has never seen greater horrors filled with abuse and a lack of conscious than that of the holocaust. The Holocaust was a mass genocide conducted by the Nazi party in Germany during the 1940s. This movement was lead by the idea that all non-Aryan or “inferior” races had to be exterminated so that Germany could once again become a powerful country. They were able to take control so easily because the German people were weak from the country’s economic problems and Hitler (with the Nazis) brainwashed them into believing what the Nazis were doing was not only allowed but essential to their day to day lifestyle.
The above example illustrates not only how the theatrical performance affects the audience, but also how the audience influences its dynamics, development and the characters within it. The actors feel a certain level of acceptance from the viewer, who demands a certain way of depicting the character. Theatre is not just entertainment, itís something much more than that ñ itís education. Theatre should always represent things, rather than
“Audiences today want a real experience in their live performance, because they can get great script based entertainment at home, through various new media sources. Traditional theatre, which appeals on a mental, and hopefully also emotional level, has not been enough to compete with other media, and audiences have been declining. Physical theatre, by contrast appeals to the audience on a physical and emotional level, providing a much more immediate experience than traditional theatre” ~ (Artmedia Publishing in Zen Zen Zo’s “The Tempest” Teacher’s Notes)
A few weeks ago, I had a chance to watch Les Miserables at Imperial Theater. Les Miserables is play based on Victor Hugo’s award winning novel. I must admit that the play made me realize the great stories that will continue be told in mass media for years to come. Much to my astonishment, the characters in the play essentially delivered a great show, ranging from their acting to their singing.
“Theatre makes us think about power and the way our society works and it does this with a clear purpose, to make a change.”
A musical film is a genre of movie where songs sung by characters are added into the storyline, occasionally complemented by choreography. The musical numbers in these films do not always develop the plot and characters, but they do give the films a more exciting quality. The primary difference between musical theatre and film musicals is the use of extravagant scenery that would be extraordinarily unreasonable for a stage performance. While making movies, the individuals involved have the luxury of being able to shoot multiple takes and have the time to move backgrounds around or change their entire location. Stage performances, on the other hand, must have scenery that can be easily and efficiently moved on and offstage when it is needed. In order to be able to thoroughly comprehend this relatively recent- in the grand scheme of things- form of entertainment, one should understand the history behind these musical films, be aware of some of the “big names” that are well-known, and recognize major titles that revolutionized musical film forever (Scaruffi, P., 2005).
There is no theatre without an audience. The audience is as much a part of the playmaking experience as the artists—so how do we incorporate them more actively into what we do? We must work with them – and I’ve learned, in so doing,
In the words of Gay McAuley, “for an activity to be regarded as a performance, it must involve the live presence of the performers and those witnessing it…” (McAuley, 2009, cited in Schechner, 2013, pp.38). This statement recognises the importance of both the actor and the audience for something to truly function as a performance. In addition, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones highlights the significance of the theatrical space and how it can influence an audience stating that “on entering a theatre of any kind, a spectator walks into a specific space, one that is designed to produce a certain reaction or series of responses” (Llewellyn-Jones, 2002, pp.3). The relationship between actor, audience and theatrical space is no less important today than it was at the time of theatre during the Spanish Golden Age and the creation of Commedia dell’arte in Italy. Despite being very close geographically with theatre thriving for both in the same era, sources that explore the social, cultural and historical context of these countries and the theatre styles will bring to light the similarities and differences. This essay will analyse the staging, the behaviour of the audience as well as the challenges the actors faced, and how this directly influenced the relationship between actor, audience and theatrical space.
I’ve adored theatre for as long as I can remember. From writing plays throughout elementary school, to being involved in Drama Club in middle school, to performing in community theatre in high school, and to visiting the theatre as often as I could from the very beginning, theatre has always been a part of my life. Every aspect of it engages me: the directors working to bring their vision of the show’s scenes, choreography, or music to life, the actors transforming into different characters through their expression of dialogue, song, or dance, the costumers and set-builders transporting the audience into the setting and time period with their artistry, the backstage tech and crew working quickly and precisely to keep the show flowing to curtain call, and the orchestra bringing the show to life through music. There is nothing like the experience of live theatre, both as a member of the audience and as a member of the cast and crew.
In today's busy world, people usually struggle to find time for fun and a way of relaxation but when it happens, they often spend it on entertainment. One of those forms of entertainment is watching stage or film productions. Theatre and film have lots of aspects in common and depend on each other, however, they involve differences. People choose between theater and film based on factors and their own preferences. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast between those two forms of art.