Year 9 Dramatic Terms Quiz

Body language refers to the non-verbal communication expressed through gestures, facial expressions, and posture. In acting, it is crucial for actors to effectively use their body to convey emotions, intentions, and messages to the audience. Through physical movements and expressions, actors can enhance the understanding and impact of their performance. Therefore, the given answer accurately defines body language as the means by which an actor communicates meaning to the audience through their body.

A freeze frame refers to a technique used in theater where actors freeze in their positions, creating a still image that resembles a 3D photograph on stage. This technique is commonly used to emphasize a particular moment or to create a visually striking image for the audience.

A story that is played out on stage is called a play. Plays are live performances that involve actors performing a scripted story in front of an audience. They often include dialogue, music, and various theatrical elements to convey the narrative. Unlike fairytales or gossip shows, which can be told through different mediums, plays specifically refer to theatrical productions. The option "one level of a high rise building" is unrelated and does not pertain to the question.

When a director tells you to work on your VOLUME, they mean how loudly or quietly you are speaking on stage. This instruction is related to the projection of your voice and ensuring that it reaches the audience clearly. Adjusting the volume helps create the desired impact and ensures that the audience can hear and understand your lines effectively. By working on your volume, you can control the intensity and dynamics of your performance, enhancing the overall theatrical experience.

Facial expressions are a powerful tool for conveying emotions and feelings. They provide visual cues to the audience about the mood of the actor. By observing the actor's facial expressions, the audience can interpret whether the character is happy, sad, angry, or any other emotion. These expressions help the audience connect with the character and understand their emotional state, enhancing their overall understanding and engagement with the performance.

Improvisation refers to the act of actors or actresses creating something dramatic spontaneously, without any prior rehearsal or preparation. This involves thinking on their feet, making up dialogue, actions, and reactions in the moment. It is a technique commonly used in theater and improvisational comedy, where performers rely on their creativity, spontaneity, and quick thinking to create engaging and entertaining performances.

The audience needs to be able to see the actor/actress' faces in order to interpret their facial expressions. Facial expressions play a crucial role in conveying emotions, intentions, and reactions of the characters. They provide valuable cues for the audience to understand the storyline and the characters' motivations. Without being able to see the actors' facial expressions, the audience would miss out on a significant aspect of the performance and may struggle to fully engage with the story.

MIME refers to a form of performance art where actors convey emotions, actions, and stories without using their voice. Instead, they rely on exaggerated body movements, gestures, facial expressions, and props to communicate with the audience. This form of acting emphasizes physicality and the use of visual cues to convey meaning and engage the audience.

When you take on a part in a play, you are assuming a specific character or role. This involves embodying the traits, personality, and actions of that character. Wearing a wig or mask may be part of the costume, but the crucial aspect is the role itself. The role defines the character and their purpose in the play, making it the most fitting answer.

When told to improve posture and gesture while acting, one needs to focus on their body language. Body language refers to the nonverbal communication expressed through physical movements, gestures, and facial expressions. It plays a crucial role in conveying emotions, intentions, and character traits on stage. By paying attention to their body language, actors can enhance their performance by effectively portraying their character and engaging with the audience. This includes maintaining proper posture, using appropriate gestures, and utilizing the stage space effectively to create a more compelling and convincing portrayal.

Tension in a play is important because it creates anticipation and excitement, keeping the audience engaged and preventing boredom. It adds a sense of suspense and drama to the storyline, making the audience curious about what will happen next. This heightened interest and emotional investment in the play's events and characters make it more enjoyable and memorable for the audience.

not-available-via-ai

MOOD is something that actors and actresses try to create for their audience. This means that actors and actresses work to evoke certain emotions or atmospheres in their performances in order to elicit specific reactions from the audience. They use various techniques such as body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and overall performance style to convey the desired mood. The other options provided in the question are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the concept of mood in relation to actors and actresses.

PACE refers to how quickly or slowly something is said. In the context of communication or performance, pace refers to the speed at which someone speaks or delivers their lines. It can greatly impact the overall effectiveness and understanding of the message being conveyed. Speaking too quickly may result in information being lost or misunderstood, while speaking too slowly may lead to boredom or disengagement from the audience. Therefore, understanding and controlling pace is essential for effective communication and engaging an audience.

As the audience anticipates certain outcomes in the plot, tension builds up. This is because the audience becomes more invested in the story and its characters, and they start to feel the suspense and excitement of what might happen next. The anticipation of certain outcomes creates a sense of unease and expectation, leading to a buildup of tension in the audience.

When you take on a role in a play, you are using your body language, voice, and movement to portray a character. In a play, actors embody different characters and bring them to life through their physicality and vocal expressions. They use their body language to convey emotions, their voice to deliver lines and dialogue, and their movement to interact with other characters and the stage. By doing so, they create a believable and engaging character that the audience can connect with and understand.

Blocking has a negative effect when improvising because it hinders the flow of ideas and limits the creativity of the participants. When someone blocks, they reject or dismiss the ideas or contributions of others, creating a hostile or uncooperative environment. This can stifle collaboration and prevent the exploration of new possibilities. In improvisation, the goal is to build upon and support each other's ideas, so blocking goes against the fundamental principles of the practice.

When an actor/actress is improvising and they add something new to the action, it is called "extending." This means that they are building upon the existing scene or dialogue by introducing new elements or ideas. It shows creativity and the ability to think on their feet, enhancing the overall improvisation.

The second actor is accepting the invitation to go for a swim and extending it further by suggesting a race. This shows that they are not only agreeing to the initial proposal but also adding an additional element to make the activity more engaging.

When improvising, if one actor/actress asks another actor/actress a question, it is called an offer. In improvisation, an offer is any action, line, or gesture that contributes to the scene and gives the other actor something to work with. Asking a question can provide a new direction or information for the scene, allowing the other actor to build upon it and continue the improvisation.

The events that happen on stage are sometimes referred to as "the action" because it encompasses all the physical and verbal activities performed by the actors. It includes their movements, dialogue, and interactions with each other and the set. "The action" is a broad term that encompasses the overall performance and is essential in conveying the story and engaging the audience.

Actors use the technique of "Focus" to direct the audience's attention to a specific point on stage. By looking at the same point, they signal to the audience that something important is happening in that particular space. This helps the audience to know where to direct their attention and enhances their understanding of the performance.

The correct answer is whether we use our voice in high or low notes. In drama, the pitch of one's voice refers to the range of high and low notes they use while speaking. It is not related to the volume or speed of speech, or the physical actions used while speaking.

A TABLEAUX is a word that also refers to a freeze frame. In theater, a tableau is a technique where actors freeze in a specific pose or position to create a still image that represents a particular moment or scene. This technique is often used to convey a powerful or significant moment in the play and allows the audience to reflect on the emotions and actions of the characters.