Play Critique Guidelines
How to Write a Play Review by John Belfield
For this assignment, you must view a play or musical that was filmed while being performed on a stage (not a movie). In addition to your review, you also need your URL. You may view a college, community, or professional production, but cannot review a production for students in elementary – high school.
A review is a discussion and evaluation of a performance. It is not: mean, cruel, a list of unsupported or baseless two-bit opinions, an inventory of positive generalizations, or simply a list of gripes.
It should contain five paragraphs.
Each of the theatrical elements you will analyze in Paragraphs 3&4 of your review needs to be approached in three different steps:
FIRST- Describe what you saw in detail. Make the reader see what you saw. Be specific. Be thorough. Use adjectives and adverbs that paint a picture for the reader.
SECONDLY- Analyze what you think the director or designer was trying to achieve. Why did they design the movements, lights, sound effects, costumes that way? What were they trying to make you, the audience, feel or think?
LASTLY- Judge how effective their efforts were. Judge the performance fairly and accurately. Do not be cliché.
(i.e., Don’t say things like: “It was awesome.” “They had great chemistry.” “It was good.” Arghh…) Don’t be afraid to tell your honest opinion, but be diplomatic. Do not be mean. If you have something positive to say, give credit to the individual. If you have something negative to say, do not point the individual out. “The individual gets the credit; the team takes the hit.”
In any case, if you cannot support your opinion using specific details from the show to illustrate your points, then your judgments – positive or negative – are not really worth anything, right?
This assignment can include either a musical or play, but it must be live – no films. Live performances can not include children’s church or school productions. The live performance can include a college production, community theatre, or a professional production.
Outline
Here is the outline to follow for writing your reviews.
PARAGRAPH 1 – THE BASICS
Include the answers to these questions:
· Where did you see the show (name of school or theater)?
· When did you see the show?
· What is the title of the show?
· Who wrote it?
· What is the main message/theme of the show?
PARAGRAPH 2-THE PLOT
Briefly summarize the plot of the play or musical. Include the main characters and supervising crew positions and the real names of the/crew members who played each onstage and offstage role.
PARAGRAPH 3 – THE ACTING & DIRECTING
React to the performers playing the characters in the play. Be sure to use their real names and character names.
· Were they believable? Did they seem realistic? Did their relationships with the other characters seem natural and appropriate? Did they stay in character throughout the play?
· How was the actor’s vocal quality (volume and articulation)?
· Did their gestures and body movement convey and stay true to the character?
· Were they engaging and interesting to watch? Why? How?
· Did the blocking make sense? Were the movement choices natural and appropriate to the character/role?
PARAGRAPH 4 – THE DESIGN ELEMENTS: LIGHTS. SOUND. COSTUMES & MAKEUP. AND SETS. PROPS
Set S Props: Did they establish the correct mood for the play? Did they help add to the development of the characters, the plot, and the setting (time/place)? Were they well-made?
Lights: Did they convey the proper mood? Show emphasis? Draw focus to the right spots? Provide appropriate illumination?
· Costumes & Makeup: Were they true to the time period of the show? to the characters?
· Sound: How did the sound effects and music contribute to the show’s mood? If it was a musical, how was the orchestra?
PARAGRAPH 5 – THE REACTION/THE CONCLUSION
Was the audience attentive? Interested? What was your opinion of this performance as a whole?
1. Back up all your opinions with valid reasons.
2. Be objective, fair and sincere.
3. Evaluate the entire production.
4. Be constructive. Indicate good points along with those you felt needed improvement.
5. Enjoy the play or musical! Don’t go to a show predisposed to be negative. Celebrate live theater!