Technical

Production Analysis and Evaluation guidelines:

Your paper should be a minimum of two and a maximum of three double-spaced pages.

Sine this is a technical production class, you paper should respond to the design and technical
elements of the production. You should begin with a thesis statement about how the design and
production elements affected your viewing of the play and how, in general terms, the elements
contributed to the production.

In subsequent paragraphs you should support your argument with specific examples of how the
elements worked within the context of the production.

Your final paragraph should sum up your impressions of the technical and design elements and
how they worked (or didnt work) together to affect your overall impression of the production

Some things to think about:

Space
What type of theater was it? How large or small was it? How opulent or elaborate? How simple
or modern?
What type of stage did it have: proscenium, thrust, arena, or some other type? How did the stage
space relate to audience seating?
What was the size and shape of the playing space?
What sort of atmosphere did the space suggest? How was that atmosphere created?
Did the space seem to meet the needs of the play? Did it affect the production, and if so, how?

Scenery
What information was conveyed by the scenery about time, place, characters, and situation?
How was this information conveyed to you?
What was the overall atmosphere of the setting?
Did any colors dominate? How did colors affect your impression of the theater event?
Was the setting a specific place, or was it no recognizable or real locale? Did that choice seem
appropriate for the play.?
If the setting was realistic, how effectively did it reproduce what the place would actually look
like?
Were there symbolic elements in the scenery? If so, what were they? How did they relate to the
play?

Costumes
What information was conveyed by the costumes about time, place, characters, and situation?
How was this information conveyed to you?
What was the period of the costumes? What was the style? Were the costumes from a period
other than the period in which the play was written or originally set? If so, how did this affect the
production? Why do you think this choice was made?
How was color used to give you clues to the personalities of the characters?
Did each character's costume or costumes seem appropriate for his or her personality, social
status, occupation, etc.? Why or why not?
Did the costumes help you understand conflicts, differing social groups, and interpersonal
relationships? if so, how?
Lighting
What information was conveyed by the lighting about time, place, characters, and situation?
How was this information conveyed to you?
Describe the mood of the lighting. How was color and intensity used to affect mood? What other
characteristics of light were used to affect mood? Was the lighting appropriate for the mood of
each scene? Why or why not?
Was the lighting realistic or nonrealistic? What was the direction of the light? Did it seem to come
from a natural source, or was it artificial? Did this choice seem appropriate for the text?
Were the actors properly lit? Could their faces be seen?
Were light changes made slowly or quickly? How did this affect the play? Did it seem right for
the play? Did the lighting changes help you understand the flow of the play and where/when you
were in time?

Sound
What information was conveyed by the sound about time, place, characters, and situation? How
was this information conveyed to you?
Describe the mood of the sound. Was music used to affect mood? What other sounds were used
to affect mood? Was the sound appropriate for the mood of each scene? Why or why not?
Was the sound realistic or nonrealistic? What was the volume and direction of the sound? Did it
seem to come from a natural source, or was it artificial? Did this choice seem appropriate for the
text?
How were the acoustics? Could you always hear the actors?

Note: It is entirely possible that you will write about a production for which I or one of your other
instructors designed the lighting or scenery or costumes or sound. Please just ignore that fact. Be
honest with your analysis. All of us would much rather read a critical analysis that details reasons
why the design didnt work for you as an audience member than best scenery ever without any
real reasoning backing it up. Of course, if you actually do like something and can thoughtfully
explain why it worked for you thats fine too :)