GCSE Drama – Live Theatre Evaluation

How is the acting shaped throughout the play? As you watch the play, consider different ways in which the performances contribute to the characterisation, mood and meaning of the play. For example: Special challenges for actors Some roles require special skills. These might include: ageing, either by playing a character older than themselves or showing a character at different ages in the play multi-roling , by playing more than one character singing and dancing mime stage ghting audience interaction. In Peter Schaffer’s play Amadeus , the actor portraying Salieri plays him as both a young man and an elderly dying man. In Enda Walsh’s play Misterman , the actor playing Thomas portrays a disturbed, isolated young man as well as the various inhabitants of his village. Multi-roling is also an essential aspect of The Woman in Black and The 39 Steps , where actors play many different roles. The success with which the actors accomplish these tasks will be signi cant to how the audience receives their performances. TASK 3 1 Think of a play you have seen and note any particular challenges for the actors. 2 Then choose a moment or two to describe in a few sentences. Discuss the effect on the audience of the acting in those scenes. Are there moments where the actor contributes to the comedy or drama? Does an actor show that their character changes or develops over the course of the play? Do the actor’s movements surprise, shock or amuse the audience? Is the actor believable in the situations in the play? Does the actor react/respond to situations and other actors in a way that is engaging, believable and artistically satisfying? Are the actor’s movements and speech clear enough to help the audience understand the play? Does the performance fit your understanding of the character? 17 CHAPTER 3 ANALYSING AND EVALUATING ACTING