Critiquing a Musical

For your second and final critique, you will be studying the recent Broadway production of the musical Falsettos.

How many times in real life have you been having a conversation with someone and then suddenly BAM! You break into song! Hmm…not exactly a normal situation, is it? Perhaps with friends when fooling around or singing along with a playlist, but it’s not often that you, for instance, go to the bank and have a powerful, emotional duet with the teller depositing your check. But in musicals, that’s what happens sometimes! Many theatremakers know of the old adage that goes, “when the words aren’t enough, sing.” In theatre, or more specifically in a musical, when emotions or stakes become high, those circumstances are expressed through singing rather than just dialogue. This final critique will involve watching a recent Broadway musical.

But first, let’s take a look at both the art of acting through song, and then watch an example of a performer acting through song.

Here’s a video of a coach walking you through using a song to tell a story in your acting:

And here’s a medley of songs from the recent Broadway production of The Color Purple. Note the way that Sofia, Shug, and Celie tell different stories with the music through their body language, inner life, and facial expressions. How does the style of the song help them? Do their characters shine through? Watch the ensemble as well, and how they act throughout the music.

Now, watch a full musical production and write a critique using the prompt below. Enjoy!

Please write your paper following this prompt:

This critique should focus on both stand-out detailed moments and big picture ideas regarding acting style. Remember, this is not about whether or not you liked the show. It’s about a deeper dive into the production and the details that made you examine the acting.

What was the overall premise of the show, in your opinion? Remember, in this class, the premise is formatted as: BLANK leads to BLANK. What moments stood out to you? Were there times in the show where you were pulled out of the action or the moment? Why?

How does the acting style of a musical differ from the style of a play or a (non-musical) film? Be specific in your analysis and give an example from Falsettos.

Give me 2-3 examples of moments you believe were well-acted through SONG. What makes you think that? Think about truth, subtext, reacting, connecting with fellow actors.

The essay must examine closely the prompts offered, provide 2-3 well-supported examples of moments well-acted through song, and include an introduction and conclusion.

If outside sources are used, it is recommended to use MLA formatting for citations (outside sources are not required.) For help with MLA Formatting check out MLA Formatting and Style from Purdue OWL