Stanislavski Key Terms quiz

What is the term for: the events leading up to the start of the play, or before each new entrance your character makes?

• Super objective

• Magic If

• Given circumstances

• Before Time

What do we mean by a character's 'objective'?

What do we mean by 'given circumstances'?

• what influences our thoughts and actions without our being aware of it.

• the situation the character is in within a particular bit of the play.

• what we do to achieve what we want

• the thoughts going through our character's mind

(In Stanislavski's system) what is an 'action'?

• a technique to make the actor feel relaxed on stage

• the theme of the play; what the play is really about.

• what we do to achieve what we want

• an acrobatic or dynamic movement on stage

What do we call something that prevents us getting what we want (and achieving our objective)?

• A challenge

• An obstacle

• An action

• A boost

What is the Magic If?

• the hidden or underlying meaning of something

• the desired state for an actor, physically ready and free from tension, which can be used to create and experience a role.

• the theme of the play; what the play is really about.

• the question the actor asks themselves to trigger the imagination within a given set of circumstances.

What is 'the circle of attention'?

• a ray of energy passed between performers to communicate without words.

• a technique to find a real past experience with a similar emotion to that demanded by the role being played, and 'borrow' those feelings to bring the role to life.

• a technique to make the actor feel relaxed on stage, to help the actor focus on something on stage and to shift his or her awareness from the audience.

• performing in-the-round, with audience on all sides of the stage

What is an inner monologue?

• the 3rd circle of attention

• when only one character is speaking

• Its a play within a play or when characters are shown acting out a scene

• the thoughts going through our character's mind.

What is a 'bit' or 'unit'?

• section of the play (divided up by actors & directors), usually starts when there is an event on stage, the character's objectives change or a character enters/exits.

• the theme of the play; what the play is really about. What the character wants over the course of the play.

• something that is preventing us from getting what we want

• what we do to achieve what we want

What do we mean by 'Active Imagination'?

• Having the audience's point of view while being on stage.

• the part of the mind that influences our thoughts and actions without our being aware of it.

• seeing things through the character's eyes, using the five senses.