Essential Guidelines for Crafting Effective Theatre Critiques

Abstract

Critique Guidelines Handout **Late Papers will NOT be accepted** Papers will be turned in electronically, via Turnitin. Details about deadlines are on your syllabus for each critique. Word count will be included on the TurnItIn prompt. Critique Guidelines: • DOUBLECHECK the word requirement for this assignment. It will be in the TurnItIn prompt. Less than the requirement (yes, even being one word short) may result in the critique not being graded and receiving a zero on the assignment. • Put your name, ID Number, class name and play attended on the first page, top right. This is a critique of the performance you attended. Using paper space to write your experience arriving at the theatre, historical research on the play, the weather the day of the play, how cold it was in the theatre, or other extraneous information will lower your grade. Additionally, an overlong introductory and/or concluding paragraph, or a re-telling of the plot/story will lower your grade (Remember: we know the plot and story, and do not need you to tell us what happened in depth). Summary is an important tool of writing, but should not be the focus or point of this particular paper. Your grade doesn’t depend on if you liked or disliked the production. You will be graded on the depth of your observations and on how well you communicate and support your opinions. What is most important in this critique is that in your explanation of the performance you explain WHY you have the opinion you do about a certain production element. To say: “The acting stunk” is not acceptable. Explain to me WHY you think the acting stunk, or the set was great, or the sound design didn’t work. Lack of well-thought out and articulated explanations will lower your grade. I encourage you to pick 2 or 3 of the questions listed below and focus on them (So you can expand on them!!!) as opposed to simply trying to answer all of the questions in one paper....