DUE April 27

1. Read Chemers’ summary of Brecht on Digital Theatre + (the assigned reading on Brecht).  Watch the recorded production of “Stunted Trees” on Digital Theatre +.
2. Choose one Brechtian idea from the reading in order to discuss elements of “Stunted Trees.” How does the production employ one of the techniques of Epic Theatre? Be sure you cite the scene from the production by writing the minute/second mark in the video, as well as a quote from the reading. 
3. Next, think about the Brechtian concept you discussed above, and imagine how it could be applied to any of the plays (or productions) we have watched (or read) this semester (Antigone, Henry V, A Doll’s House, clips of Noh theatre, clips of Javanese puppet theatre). Discuss how the production we saw would look if Brecht had directed it or re-written the story. How would Brecht have re-staged the play (set, structure of story, or acting), or how would the story have been told differently if it was written by Brecht?  

Feel free to write to me if you have any questions at all about this assignment. 

Due SUNDAY NIGHT APRIL 6

In class, we discussed Naturalism and how the first scene of Ibsen’s Doll’s House demonstrates naturalistic elements in theatre. From the homework, read the section on “Theory” in Sierz, Naturalism in Digital Theatre+ [Library>Research Guides>Theatre> Audiovisual> Digital Theatre + >  search for “Sierz Naturalism”]. The reading contains two quotes by Emile Zola. Choose one. Make sure you read the entire section so you fully understand the quote.

Then, watch Doll’s House in Digital Theatre + [Library>Research Guides>Theatre>Audiovisual> Digital Theatre + > search for “Doll’s House Production”]. Choose one scene from the production of the play that demonstrates Zola’s theory of Naturalism (not the first scene we viewed in class). In a comment box below, discuss how these three elements from the scene are “naturalistic”: 1) events in the scene (the plot), 2) a physical element from the Young Vic production (set, prop, costume), and 3) the acting (how one of the actors in the Young Vic production fulfill’s Zola’s description of naturalism).  

5 sentences, minimum. Cite the entire Zola quote in your response. Be very specific about elements from the scene and how these elements connect to an idea from the Zola quote. You need to demonstrate that you watched the Young Vic production of Doll’s House and that you thought carefully about Zola’s definition of Naturalism. Include the hour/minute mark of the scene you are referring to from the Young Vic production from Digital Theatre +, not the scene or act number.