Prompt: In Chapter 7 of Theatrical Worlds, the author¿s purpose is to give you the tools to help you define theatrical productions through generic criticism. The two approaches presented to you are to define a production by (1) the content of the production¿s script and (2) by being identified with a specific aesthetic or cultural movement. While theatrical productions can hardly be defined as one genre (or ¿kind¿), your author begins with Aristotle¿s classical definitions of tragedy and comedy found in his work, Poetics.

1. 1. How does the content of the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles (summarized on pages 42-45 of our textbook) meet Aristotle¿s definition of tragedy? How does the play written by Sophocles reflect the aesthetic or culture in which it was written?

2. After viewing the videos below answer the following questions:

a. How do you see the Guthrie Theatre¿s production of A Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni exhibiting the features of commedia dell¿arte as described by your text and the National Theatre¿s workshop? (The full script can be found at http://www.gutenberg.ca/ebooks/goldonident-twomasters/goldonident-twomasters-00-h.html)

b. Compare the productions of Tartuffe by Moliere (Jean-Baptise Poquelin) and identify the types of comedy used each. How do the production concepts (acting, directing, set & costume designs) of each support the type of comedy that you have identified? Be specific. (The full script can be found at http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2027/pg2027.html)

3. Identify 2 different types of comedy used today (theatre, TV, movies). Be specific with your examples and explain why you have identified them each as such.

National Theatre "The World of Commedia dell’Arte"

Guthrie Theater "The Servant of Two Masters (Part 1)"

Guthrie Theater "The Servant of Two Masters (Part 2)"

University of Rhode Island "Tartuffe"

Dell Arte Blue Lake "Tartuffe Trailer"

South Coast Repertory "Excerpts from the theatre classic ‘Tartuffe’ by Moliere"

Westport Country Playhouse presents ‘Moliere’s Tartuffe’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2NvMVqHhRA