Практичні заняття: 1,2.. Read, translate and learn the given words. Prepare for a dictation.

Act

A unit or division of a play, each of which is composed of one or more scenes. Originally, Greek plays were continuous and the introduction of divisions was a later development. Plays today may divided into one, two, or three acts.

Act Curtain

Also referred to as an Act-Drop, the term refers to a curtain or painted cloth which was closed or opened to signify the beginning or ending of an act, as distinguished from the main curtain or grand drape.

Action

The movement or development of the plot, or story in a play.

Arena

The area of a play's action in " theaters in the round", in which the audience sits surrounding the stage.

Aria

An operatic term denoting a highly formalized musical structure that expresses feeling or emotion rather than conveying information or advancing the action of a drama.

Aside

Sometimes referred to as breaking the proscenium or breaking the fourth wall, the term refers to a speech or comment made by an actor directly to the audience about the action of the play or another character. The audience is to understand that this comment is not heard or noticed by the other characters in the play.

The entire area behind or beyond the stage, including the dressing rooms. Sometimes includes the " wings", or sides of the stage area.

A forerunner of English Opera and musical comedy, ballad operas were primarily a creature of the 18th century British stage, and were topical plays of spoken dialogue with a large number of musical numbers consisting of lyrics set to popular tunes.

A person who composed and recited heroic or epic poems, often accompanied by lyre or harp. " The Bard" is now synonymous with William Shakespeare.

Originally, a night club type establishment where poets, artists and musicians performed their work. Cabarets had a political impact in France, Germany and Russia in the 1920's and 30's. In the modern sense, a cabaret is simply entertainment presented to any audience in night-clubs, hotel-restaurants or at official dinners.

Literally, carnem vale, or " farewell to meat", carnival is the pre-lenten festival of the Christian world. Carnival was one of the more significant Christian holidays that, through its pageants and presentations, kept the art of theatre alive during the Middle Ages.

In Imperial Rome, the " ring" in which chariot races, feats of arms and animal exhibitions were held. In its modern sense, dating from the 18th century, it is the successor to the itinerant troupes of actors, acrobats and performers that roamed Europe in the Middle Ages.

In the traditonal dramatic sense, the most powerful moment in a play, following which the denouement occurs.

From the Greek, " revel-song", it originally referred to satiric plays of Aristophanes and Menander, as distinguished from the more pastoral " satyr plays" that may have pre-dated Dionysian tragedies. Often deriving their satirical or humorous nature from topical subjects, comedy is not as " ageless" as tragedies. In the more modern sense, the term applies to any play with a happy ending.

Literally " comedy of the profession", Commedia dell'Arte originated in Northern Italy and was more popular in that country and France than in England. The emphasis is on stock characters with which the audience is familiar. Distinguished from amateur touring troupes.

In its modern sense, refers to organizations of amateurs in a particular region or community who produce and perform plays. Community theatre as we know it traces its beginnings to the turn of the century and has seen tremendous growth in the last fifty years.

Ownership of and the right to control all aspects of reproducing a work. We have a number of links to sites with information on all aspects of copyright.

Clothing and accessories worn by an actor in to signify period and portray character. While we often emphasize scenery and effects in today's theatre, costume can often be more important to an actor's creation of a role. In early theatre, scenery was eschewed in favor of costume.

Sometimes referred to as the " grand drape" or " main drape", the curtain is a screen, usually made of cloth, used to separate the stage from the auditorium.

The final appearance of the cast, at the end of the play, to receive the applause of the audience.

A one-act play performed before the main play in the 19th Century.

Translating the play from the written script to the interpretation and action which takes place on stage.

The person charged with overall interpretation of a dramatic work, who conducts the rehearsals, blocks the action and assists the actors in developing their characters.