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.

Critique Guidelines:

• Minimum 500 words/Maximum 600 words, double spaced, 12-point font. Less than 500 words (yes, even having 499 words) will 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. 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.

In writing your critique, answer these questions in essay form:

1. What was the theme of the play? Did you agree with the play’s message? Why or why not?
2. Who are the protagonist and antagonist and what are their motivations/goals in the play? Did their motivations/goals make sense to you given the theme of the play? Why or why not?
3. What was the primary conflict between the protagonist and antagonist?
4. Who was the best actor? Why?
5. Who was the worst actor? Why?
6. How did the play’s set contribute to your understanding of the play’s story, characters and theme? Did the play’s set help or hinder your understanding of story, characters, and theme? Explain your answer.
7. How did the play’s costumes contribute to your understanding of the play’s story, characters and theme? Did the play’s costumes help or hinder your understanding of story, characters, and theme? Explain your answer.
8. How did the play’s lighting contribute to your understanding of the play’s story, characters and theme? Did the play’s costumes help or hinder your understanding of story, characters, and theme? Explain your answer.
9. How did the play’s sound/score contribute to your understanding of the play’s story, characters and theme? Did the play’s sound/score help or hinder your understanding of story, characters, and theme? Explain your answer.