How to Review a Play

Because the performance of a play is an ephemeral event, lasting only a few hours, it's an especially challenging art form to review. Preparing in advance is crucial, as is keeping an open mind about the different choices a director might make.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

1. Read the play before attending the production, unless you are already very familiar with the work. Having a firm sense of the play's language and style will make you a more perceptive judge of the production's merits.
2. Watch the play, trying to keep an open mind about the choices the director has made about the production while evaluating their effectiveness. Immediately after the play, jot down your impressions and any descriptive details that you might want to use in your review.
3. Tell your readers the basic facts about the play, such as the names of the playwright, director, leading actors and the theater company, and where the play was performed. This information typically appears in the first few paragraphs of the review, but some of it can be worked into later paragraphs.
4. Describe the play very briefly, touching upon its subject, scope and themes. It's not necessary‰??or even desirable‰??to provide a lengthy plot summary.
5. Offer your critical opinion of the play, supported with specific examples. Was it entertaining or thought-provoking? Describe the play's major strengths and weaknesses.
6. Evaluate the direction of the play, including (if applicable) key concepts that unify the production or a particular interpretational approach. Describe these choices by the director and analyze their effectiveness.
7. Assess the performances of the actors. Consider whether you found their performances convincing, how they worked together, and how their voices and body movements contributed to or detracted from the overall effect.
8. Evaluate the play's design elements. Did the set establish the right mood for the play? Did the costumes and lighting enhance the overall effect?
9. Conclude with your analysis of the success or failure of the production. It is generally worth seeing, or do its flaws outweigh its merits?

Tips & Warnings

• When watching the play, be attentive and thoughtful but not excessively critical. You want to be able to determine whether the average theatergoer would enjoy seeing the play, not compile a laundry list of faults.

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