The review should be at least two pages in length.

One and three quarters of a page is not

a full page – you must write at least two complete pages. You must see the complete play
to write a review.

Italicize or underline the play title: Death of a Salesman or Death of a Salesman.

Remember that your first draft should not be what you turn in. Write the review,
proofread it, look for ways to improve your communication, then turn in the improved
version. Grammar, spelling errors, and unclear writing are part of the grade. Once again,
make sure that you proofread your paper before turning it in.

Some common mistakes to look for:

· Use the correct form of “there” (location), “their” (possession), and “they’re” (they
are).

· “It’s” stands for “it is.” Do not use “it’s” to indicate possession. The correct
possessive for “it” is “its.”

· Avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments.

· Use complete sentences.

· Use quotation marks when you quote what a character says.

· Scenery refers to walls, furniture, staircases, bushes, or anything else that doesn’t
move but is set on stage. Do not refer to scenery as props.

· Props are what the actors pick up and use in some way, such as pencils, books,
dishes, newspapers, brooms, etc.

Use 12 point font, double-spaced

Indent each paragraph five spaces.

Don’t leave unused extra spaces between paragraphs.

Make sure that each paragraph communicates a complete thought or discussion – avoid
paragraphs of only one or two sentences. Also, don’t combine two different discussions
into one paragraph (i.e. discussing acting and scenery in the same paragraph).

Use 1” margins on all sides of the paper.

Write your name, the class name, my name, and the date in the upper right hand corner of
the paper.
Attach your ticket stub to the review.

You are required to see one performance every 9 weeks and to write a review for it.
Two of the performances may be a taped performance. You can find taped performances
at the public library. Film versions of theatrical classics may also be substituted for a live
performance. Remember, only two out of the four you will write this year may be from
a taped performance. Obviously a ticket stub is not required for performances you
watch at home.

Use as much knowledge as you have gained throughout the semester when writing a
review. This means that my expectations increase for the second and third reviews.
Much of the grading depends on how specific, detailed and descriptive you are. There
are no “wrong” responses to a play. Your task is to explain your responses clearly and
articulately. Grading has more to do with you effectively backing up your ideas than the
ideas themselves.

The review is DUE OCTOBER 22. No exceptions.

I. Introduction
A. Information about the play

1. The play title

2. Who is the playwright?
3. Where the play was performed
4. The date you saw the play
5. When will the run of the play end?
6. On what nights or afternoons will the play be presented?
7. What is the curtain time?
8. How much do tickets cost?

B. Summary introduction
1. State the goal of the play (What is the desired audience response – laughter, tears,
thought? What is it hoped that we laugh, cry or think about?)
2. State whether the production achieved its goal.
3. Briefly state your impression of the play (was it a good experience?) in a sentence or
two.
4. Make a brief, general statement (one sentence) about why you have that impression.
You will explain both of these statements in detail in the body of the review.

II. Body
A. Discuss the plot briefly, and how it relates to the goal of the production.

1. When and where does the play take place?

2. Who are the main characters (protagonist and antagonist)?
3. What is the central conflict in the play?
4. What is the climax of the play?
B. Make a statement about the effectiveness of a production element (scene design,
acting, costumes, lighting, etc.) in relation to the goal of the production.
1. State what you observed. Use 2 or 3 specific examples to explain your statement about
why the element was effective or ineffective. Be sure to discuss what you observed in the
performance.*
2. Make a concluding statement about how this affected the success or failure of
achieving the goal of the play.

C. Make a statement about the effectiveness of a second production element (scene

design, acting, costumes, lighting, etc.) in relation to the goal of the production.
1. State what you observed. Use 2 or 3 specific examples to explain your statement about
why the element was effective or ineffective. Be sure to discuss something that you
observed in the performance.*
2. Make a concluding statement about how this affected the success or failure of
achieving the goal of the play.

D. Was the play worth doing? Why or why not?

III. Conclusion
A. Make a concluding statement about whether the play met its goals.
B. Make a concluding statement about the overall experience of the play and whether you
would recommend it or not.

*When discussing acting, for example, focus on the believability of the actors, describing
their specific behaviors (facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc.).

Grading

Grammar, spelling

Do you use complete sentences?

Are your sentences constructed correctly?

Are words spelled correctly?

Are words used accurately?

1 – 5 points

Organization
Do ideas develop logically?

Are statements clear? Does a reader know what you’re trying to say?

Do you introduce and conclude the review (see outline)

1 – 20 points

Support

Do you support your ideas using specific examples from the production (not plot)? This
is the evidence explaining your response.

Is the evidence thoughtful and focused?

1 – 15 points

Depth of thought

Does the writing show an honest attempt at understanding the production?

Are you evaluating the production based on its intentions?

1 – 10 points

Total points possible

50