length.
Play Review: Play Title
By: First/Last Name
Paragraph 1: Introduction & Preview
A. What you plan to write about: Play, _____, by _____ at _____ Theatre
B. Choose 1-2 Characters to describe & comment upon—don’t try to cover them all
C. Discuss the Text, Direction
D. Choose 2 Production Values to discuss: How do they enhance/detract from
production?
a. Scenery
b. Lighting
c. Costumes
d. Sound
e. Props
Paragraph 2-5: Review Body:
Par. 2: Favorite Actor/Character: Characters & Conflict
Par.3: Discuss Text: What is the genre of the play and what is the playwright’s purpose
in telling the story?
Par. 4: Discuss Director: How does the director’s concept enhance or detract from story
& message?
Par. 5: Production Values #1 & #2
a. Scenery: What is your first impression of the world of the play that is being
represented based on the set? How does the set help tell the story
throughout the performance? How are the moving elements of the
set incorporated into the play? Are they effective, and why or why
not? What does the painting style look like, and how does that
effect the audience’s perception of the environment? How do the
designer’s color choices have on the story that is being told?
c. Costumes: How do the costumes help to let the audience know who each
character is? What do the costumes tell you about the character’s
age, social status, education level, etc.?
d. Sound: How do the music and sound effects help to sculpt the experience
of the show for the audience? What does it add to the
performance?
e. Props: Are there any props that are highlighted during the performance
and how are they incorporated into the story being told? Are they
effective at assisting with the story telling, and why or why not?
Last Paragraph: Summary & Conclusion:
What’s best/worst about this play. Do you recommend it? For whom?
Please Note: Liking the show will not make me like your paper. The intent of having you write
this paper is to develop your critical eye, so be sure not to focus solely on the ways in which the
production succeeded, but also to identify areas in which it could have been more effective.
Every show has things that they cou
