This assignment requires students to attend three live theatre events and analyze each performance based on 10 specified dramatic elements. Students must identify the central dramatic action, how the play was unified, examples of exposition, the point of attack, inciting incident, any complications, discoveries, the crisis/climax, how the play resolved, and any subplots. Late work will not be accepted. The assignment is worth 100 points for each performance analyzed.

1. Live Theatre Analysis Assignment
• This assignment is worth 100 points for each of three live theatre events.
• This assignment is due the last week of regular session.
• To successfully complete the assignment, attend a live theatre event and
identify all ten of elements below.
• Late work will not be accepted.
• Any performance with a story line will be acceptable such as: opera, musical
theatre, straight theatre and ballet.
Identify these dramatic elements:
1) What is the central dramatic action? Do not tell me the plot. Tell me what the dramatic
idea the play revolves around. You can answer this in a short paragraph.
Dramatic action: the actions of the individual characters relate to some question, problem
or theme that forms the “dramatic” action of the play as a whole.”
Answer:
2) How was the play unified?
Example; was it cause and affect, character, thought or some other unifier?
Answer:
3) Give me several examples of exposition.
Exposition reveals the relationships between characters. Exposition reveals who the
characters are in terms of age, physical appearance and personality. Moreover, exposition
tells us the when, where, why and who of the play.

2. Answer:
4) Point of attack?
This is when the play begins. Often the point of attack is preceded by exposition. “It’s
the moment at which the story is taken up. You can have early or late point of attack.
Answer:
5) Inciting incident?
Often toward the beginning of a play you have an inciting incident. This is an
occurrence that sets the main action in motion. It usually leads to a “major dramatic
question” around which the play is organized, although the question may change as the
play progresses.
Answer:
6) Were there any complications?
This is any new information that provides a twist.
Answer:
7) Was anyone or anything discovered?
Answer:

3. 8) What was the crisis and/or climax?
A series of complications results in the climax which is the highest point suspense. It is
often accompanied by the crisis, the discovery or event that determines the outcome of
the action.
Answer:
9) How did the play resolve?
This goes from the crisis to the end. It may resolve the conflict, make sense of things, or
answer questions.
Answer:
10) Were there any subplots?
These are interests in the play that are secondary. It often provides contrast or
commentary on the main plot. It can also interact with the main plot to resolve the crisis.
Answer:
Questions for deeper contemplation.
1) Understanding. What were the artists trying to do?
2) Effectiveness. How well did they do it?
3) Ultimate worth. How valuable was the performance?
4) What are some of the overall messages of the play? What did it say about humanity?