The reaction paper will be on the film version of the play Fences by August Wilson starring and directed by Denzel Washington. This is a for credit assignment. However, letter grade deductions will occur if it is turned in late, is shorter than the minimum length requirement or the elements of the handout Enjoy the Play (attached) are not followed. The paper should be 2-3 pages, 12 Times New Roman and double spaced.
You must view the film and takes notes in order to complete this project. You will more than likely need to rent it online, Amazon Prime or Amazon is recommended but you may also use a different site if you so chose.
Writing a Theatre Reaction Paper
You are enrolled in a Theatre course; and you are required to write a theatre reaction paper. The following guidelines are designed to structure the elements and the development of your paper. Your paper should include the name of the play and playwright. Additionally, you should identify the director, as well as the principal members of the cast. At the beginning of the paper, identify the general type of play that you are reacting to as well. This is not so much a formal designation of the play’s genre but rather an in-your-own words description.
At this point you will want to give a very brief synopsis of the play. Identify the main characters and the main story line, going into as little detail as necessary for your reader to get the gist of the play. This synopsis introduces the major characters and basic dramatic issues. It is not an attempt to show how the major conflicts are resolved or to retell the entire story.
In the next portion of the paper, you will move into more of your “strictly personal responses” to the play, production and performances. This portion is the bulk of your paper. Refer to the “bullet points” below. You must respond to all of the bullet points.
About the play:
• What is the play really about in your opinion?
• What character(s) did you like and why? Which one(s) did you not like and why?
• What life issue(s) did the play address that relates to your own life and how so?
• What was the most emotionally moving scene(s) for you and why?
• What was the funniest scene(s) for you and why?
About the production and performances:
• Did the acting/actors overall seem believable or not and why? Who was your favorite actor(s) and why? Who was your least favorite actor(s) and why?
• How did the scenery and costume elements help to make the production either more effective or not and why?
• How did the lighting and the sound/music elements help to make the production either more effective or not and why?
