Writing the Introduction

The introduction should include the following:

1. The title of the play, the name of the playwright, and some of his similar works

from this period.

2. The name of the director, the place and date of the production you attended, and

the name of the production company. Just the same, include other previous
works by this company and their respective directors.
3. The thesis of your review, which should include a general impression of the

relative success or failure of the production, based on what you actually saw and
on your initial impression of how the play should have been performed.
Example 1:
Tanghalang Pilipinos production of Ibalong is a neo-ethnic dance musical
that captures mans struggle to protect the environment and culture
against commercialism, modernization, and globalization.
Writing the Statement and Summary
Provide a thematic summary of the play by discussing what it is about not its plot.
Cite enough pieces of evidence to support what you think is the plays central topic. A
summary may follow the introduction in case you think that discussing the plays gist is
necessary.
Writing the Body of the Paper: The Review
This is your opportunity to discuss in detail the elements of production stated in
the introduction and thesis.
To keep this huge chunk substantial and coherence, discuss all the elements in
the sequence that you sketched out in the introduction. Your points may include nontechnical features of the play like acting and directing or technical aspects like lights and
stage design, costume or props.
When discussing each of these vital elements, do not fail to describe briefly and
accurately in detail the physical aspects that you saw performed and focus on specific
scenes or performances that serve as evidence for your culminating evaluation of the
play.

After describing a few elements clearly and comprehensively, you are ready to
evaluate the play. You will achieve this by asking questions like the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Why was the set heavy in Act 2?

Why was the stage pitch black?
Why were the lights powerful even when they were dimmed?
Why did the songs have to create an eerie?

Assume. As a critic, you have to assume that ever little thing used in the
production has an impeccable significance. Then again, if you cannot find answers to all
the questions, do not freak out. You may expound on this when you write the evaluation
aside from commending or attacking the performance. However, if problems like these
are trivial, do not thrive on this trivial objection while sacrificing more important
highlights of the play.
Writing the Summary and Conclusion
The finale of your review is not a mere restatement of your thesis. Find a way to
validate your response to the play based on what you have discussed in the body of the
paper. Do not introduce a new aspect or element of the play. However, it would also be
interesting to leave your reader with something to mull over. This way, you encourage
your reader think, feel, and wonder even beyond your reasoning beyond the play.