Describe scenes and events in the play that stood out to you / moved you in some way.

For your Play Response Paper, you may attend a live theatre performance — such as the Playwrights Festival at Ohlone College on or you may watch a pre-recorded fully-staged theatre production.
You may choose to watch one of these full-length videos:

RENT: Broadway ProductionLinks to an external site.
(Full Live Performance, 2008)
or
Romeo and JulietLinks to an external site.
(Fully staged performance at the National Theatre, 2021)
or
ZOOT SUIT by Luis ValdezLinks to an external site.
(adapted from the stage play by the playwright, 1981)

PLAY RESPONSE PAPER FOR TD-109 – Fall 2022
Students will attend a theatrical production (online or in-person) and write a 2-3 page, double-spaced response paper, with 1 inch margins. You may choose between the three productions listed above (some free, some for a small fee.) Please make sure your paper is at least a full 2 pages. It is fine to go over 3 pages if need be.
PLEASE BE SURE TO CLICK THE ABOVE LINKS AND WATCH THE CORRECT PRODUCTION. 🙂 For example, there are many productions of Romeo and Juliet out there, but this is the specific production we are watching for this class.
PLAY RESPONSE PAPER DEADLINE: Saturday May 13 at 11:59 p.m.
Must be posted as a Word or PDF document on Canvas. The Play Response Paper is worth 50 pts.
Below are the criteria for the review:
Watch the entire play-on-film.
Write a 2-3 page, double-spaced paper – in proper essay format, not a series of bullet points. Use a clear opening paragraph and closing paragraph to frame your essay.
Post on Canvas under the assignment Play Response Paper, as a Word or PDF doc.

Consider these questions as you write your paper. Let these questions inspire you and give you a way to frame your paper:
Describe scenes and events in the play that stood out to you / moved you in some way. What was so compelling about those scenes or events? Do you attribute it to the acting, the writing, the music, the production design?

Can you define the protagonist and antagonist of this/ these play(s)? They could be single individuals, more than one person, or groups within a society.

Were the actors believable? What made them so convincing? Did any actors stand out to you?

What was the spine or main action of the play? What is the conflict? What are the opposing forces? What are the main obstacles that stand in the way of the protagonists getting what they want?

How were the design elements used, and which ones stood out the most to you? (the Set, Costumes, Lights, Sounds, Projections) Were they used effectively? Did they communicate a certain time and space, or mood / emotion? Did they serve the telling of the story well?

What type of genre is the play and how does it compare to other genres? Is this a realistic or non-realistic play? Did it combine several genres of styles in one?

In what ways was the play relevant to you and / or today’s world? What topics or social issues emerged through the narrative?

In what ways did the play impact you emotionally, intellectually, and / or viscerally? Would you recommend it to someone else to watch?

Please note:
This is NOT a research paper. This is an EXPERIENCE paper. I am interested to hear your personal response to this particular production.
You did not need to refer to any other online source to write this paper, so I recommend staying away from other websites and just watch the play. I am interested in YOUR gut reaction to this production, how it moved you, what it made you think about. You do not need to provide factual information about the time period or issues in the play beyond what you experience by watching the play.
In that vein, you do not need to write out the full plot or give a synopsis. This is unnecessary, as I have also seen these plays. I’d much rather hear about your observations about the production.
This is not an English class, but please do your best with grammar, sentence structure, etc. Please try to follow proper essay format with an opening paragraph, several paragraphs to discuss what you observed about the play, and a concluding paragraph. You’ll be graded particularly on your thoughtful, thorough response. Connecting the play with the topics and ideas you are encountering in class is a plus.
Again, this is NOT a research paper. But if you do refer to any online source material, please keep any quotations BRIEF (i.e. no more than 1-2 sentences.) You must cite your source, and put your quote in quotation marks, otherwise it will be considered plagiarism and may receive a zero (0). Please include a separate citation page at the end if you choose to include a brief quote from an online source.
Please email me as early as possible if you have any questions about this assignment.
Thank you, and happy play-watching!

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