Critical Analysis Essay #2

Description

– This is a critical analysis essay on the play Hamlet • Introduction- Begin by explain what play you saw. Who is the playwright? Who produced it? Etc. Then introduce your thesis statement. (Is this play worth seeing? or, Would you recommend it?) The rest of your essay should serve to support your thesis statement. • Brief Synopsis- Fact based. o Give me a brief description of the story. Who are the main characters? What is the major conflict? What major events take place? What is the climactic moment? How does it resolve? (You don’t need to give me every single thing that happened. I don’t need a five page play by play description. Summarize the story into major, important details. Leave the rest to the reader’s imagination. • Production Value- Opinion based. o Briefly describe the following aspects of the production: (In no particular order)  Acting- How was the acting? Were they believable, authentic, vulnerable, funny, Etc.? Were the relationships and the conflict palpable? Any other details you may have noticed, or liked?  Directing- How did the director handle the telling of the story? How well did the director orchestrate all the different aspects of a production? Any other details you may have noticed, or liked?  Scenery- How was the use of space, color, light used to transport the audience to each different place? What worked? What didn’t work?  Lighting- How did the lights help direct your focus to the action on stage? Did they help create an environment, or set a mood?  Costumes- Did you believe that these people would wear these outfits? Did these outfits transport you to a different era? How was color used to inform the character’s personality through their clothes?  Sound Design- What was the soundscape like? Were there sound effects used? Did they stimulate your auditory senses? How did sound help tell the story? Did they help create an environment, or create a mood? • Personal Response-Opinion based. o It is important to express how you experienced the play. Did you like it? Why, or why not? Where you affected emotionally? Did it make you think? Did you learn something new? Did you laugh, or cry? This is, perhaps, the most important part of your essay. So be sure to really take your time with this section. • Contextual Analysis- Research based o Put it into context- Do some research. Begin by reading the program, then do a search on the internet. Has it been reviewed by a local paper? See what you can find out about the playwright and why they wrote this play. When was the play originally written and what was the societal, or political environment that influenced the creation of this script? Look for the director’s note in the program and find out why he/she decided to direct this particular play. There are thousands of plays in the world. Why this one? What is the director trying to say about society today with this play? Look around the room, and get a general sense of who the audience is. Then, analyze the impact that you think this play intends to have on it’s audience? Is it trying to teach, empower, ignite, inspire, motivate, or give joy? • Conclusion o Summarize your thoughts and bring your thoughts to a close. You may consider re-stating your thesis, then closing your essay with a final statement of your overall experience. • Also include the following: 1. production values (setting, costumes, lighting and sound, etc..give specific examples) 2. acting techniques (Were the actors completely believable? Did they know all their lines? Did they really listen to one another and engage with each other? Give specific examples) 3. strength of the playwriting (how well written was the play? Did it make sense? Was it engrossing and dramatic? Give specific examples) 4. Make sure you also explore how your play is multicultural by discussing what aspects of either ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation etc it deals with or how it was cast or not cast in a multicultural or non traditional manner.