Study the following
definitions and examples.
1. action n., the series of
events that form the plot of a story or play
a. The director
decided that the second act needed more action and asked the playwright to review
the work.
b. The action on
stage was spellbinding.
2. approach v., to go near; to
move toward
a. The performance
approaches perfection.
b. The director
approached the play from an unusual angle.
3. audience n., the spectators
at a performance
a. The audience
cheered the actors as they walked off the stage.
b. The playwright
expanded his audience by writing for film as well as for stage.
4. creative adj., imaginative or
artistic
a. The writer's
creative representation of the Seven Deadly Sins was astounding.
b. There are a
number of creative people writing for the theater these days.
5. dialogue n., a conversation
between two or more persons
a. The actors
performed the dialogue without using scripts.
b. The written
dialogue seemed great, but was hard to perform.
6. element n., fundamental or
essential constituent
a. The audience is
an essential element of live theater.
b. By putting
together all the elements of theater into one play, he overwhelmed the critics.
7. experience n., an event or a
series of events participated in or lived through
a. The experience
of live theater is very thrilling.
b. Going to the
theater was not part of Claude's experience growing up.
8. occur v., to take place; to
come about
a. The murder in
the play occurs in the second act.
b. It never
occurred to me that the wife whom the character referred to was imaginary.
9. perform v., to act before an
audience, to give a public presentation of
a. The theater
group performed a three-act play.
b. Juan performed the role without
forgetting any lines.
10. rehearse v., to practice in preparation for a public
performance; to direct in rehearsal
a. The players
rehearsed for only three weeks before the show opened.
b. The director
rehearses with the actors ten hours each day.
11. review n., a critical estimate of a work or performance;
v., writing a criticism of a performance
a. The critic's
influential review of the play was so negative that it sank the entire
production.
b. The newspaper
sent a rank amateur to review the play.
12. sell out v., to sell all the tickets
a. The Broadway
opening sold out months in advance.
b. We expect that this play will be a
smash and sell out quickly.